Those Two Sweet Words: Cast Off! [Riley Crew]

[faye]

[So, this is when the Riley and Atlas are getting ready to get underway for Whitefall the morning after the big dinner with everyone. So, if you're looking for a last-minute place onboard (looking at you, Riley and Nico) this would be a good time to do it. Atlas crew can post here as well; I just didn't have room to put it in the title.]

The sun was just creeping over the horizon and onto the docks when Faye's eyes flickered open, awakening with it. It wasn't an unusual thing for her to be up and already dressed and drinking coffee before sunrise; the only thing that made today special was that the Riley was going on a job with another ship, the Atlas, run by rookie Captain Ryan Hannigan. Getting to her feet, Faye could already smell the coffee automatically brewing upstairs. She ran a brush through her bright red hair, padded over to her closet, and pulled out a pair of plain black pants, a white shirt, and her normal pair of army boots. Over it she threw her black coat; not the brown army-issue one she'd worn the night before, but still something to keep her warm.

By the time she'd done all her neccessaries and was sipping at her coffee, the crew of the Riley had come to life as well. Delilah, a morning person if there ever was one, pranced around the kitchen, making breakfast before her usual morning walk. Faye used to worry about Del going out on her own, until she bought her some pepper spray and a small .22 revolver to keep in her purse. She didn't worry so much anymore.

Standing at the door to the ship, open for the easy access between ships, Faye sipped at her coffee and sighed, pondering what this new job would do for her and her crew.

"Be back by eight-thirty," she told Delilah as she passed her on her way out for her walk. Nine o'clock was the departure time she and Hannigan had agreed on, so eight-thirty was as safe a time as any to get back. She then continued to look out onto the dock where people were already starting to bustle by on their way to work; this city didn't sleep much.

Delilah, meanwhile, started on her walk with a deep, contented sigh, watching the docks of Persephone come to life with the new day. She could see her breath on the light wind, but she didn't mind; she was wearing the heavy coat Faye had gotten her for Christmas one year, so wasn't terribly cold. Though most people prefered the swift green hills and wonderous landscapes of the country, Del found she couldn't choose between that and the city; each had its charms. The country was beautiful, to be sure, but something about the city captivated her soul, with its business and its noise and its people from all different cultures. She loved it here, and something in her was sad that they had to go so soon.

[arabella]

Arabella had finally gotten off Shinon a couple days ago. But she didn’t get too far. She still remained on the Core, only getting to Persephone. She could breath easier here though because she remembered her grandmother never ventured to Persephone unless she needed to find someone new to work for her. When she landed early in the morning she had sent a wave to Bettie. Her first one in nearly a year. It had been brief, in case someone who shouldn’t be around showed up-like one of her grandmother’s personal assistants. But it had been a joyful chat between the two of them and a sad ending.

Take care my nyen ching-duh. Know I always keep you in my heart. Those were the same words Bettie always told her when they ended a conversation. Arabella fiddled with the little star crystal on her bracelet. Bettie had a matching one that Arabella had given her that she wore on a necklace. The way the two kept close even when apart and unable to talk to each other. There once was a time when she would cry each time she ended a wave with Bettie, but now she knew how to keep calm and not lose it each time.

Her tote was slung over her left shoulder and the lighter duffel bag over the other. She carried the other by changing it between each of her hands. Arabella was looking for either a way out or a job. Just like she was on Shinon. She had talked to a few of the captains. Most weren’t taking on passengers or the were remaining on the Core. There were a couple she was debating on and would come back at some point in time if she found nothing else. She had been up since close to three-thirty am. Arabella was beginning to feel it as she didn’t get a chance to sleep until nearly midnight that night. Her bunk mate for the night had a snoring problem and she hadn’t been able to fall asleep as fast as she normally did.

Arabella noticed a ship that had been there the night before. Squinting her eyes, she noticed the name on the ship. The Riley. She tried to remember where she heard of the ship before. It took her a moment before she remembered a stranger she meet back in Shinon named Brian something or other.She didn't wear her wig this time so she doubted he would recgonize her if she decided to drop his name. Or saw him. Either way, she decided to take a chance and see if they were taking any passengers. Marching up to a woman with scarlet hair, she smiled softly. “Hello there. Is the captain of this ship around?”

[faye]

Faye sat her coffee mug on a crate near her and was just lighting up a cigarette (oh, how Faye loved her vices -- she was McKinlian, after all) when a girl came up the ramp and approached her, loaded down with bags. Shoving her lighter back in her pocket and picking up her coffee once more, she tilted her head and surveyed the sight.

She didn't look like much. The girl was barely a wisp of a thing, with blonde hair and big, blue eyes. She wasn't very dirty, and didn't look strong, so it could only be assumed she wasn't a migrant worker. She didn't look much younger than Faye, but she sure as hell wasn't older, either. In any case, she didn't look like an unfriendly girl, and if she was looking to be a passenger, well, they could use the fare anyhow.

“Hello there. Is the captain of this ship around?”

Faye didn't answer right away. Being a woman, and so young, made her constantly susceptible to not being taken seriously as a captain. It was something she'd grown used to by now, but she certainly didn't like it, so eventually she'd evolved to act intimidating to people she didn't know. Not that it was difficult for her -- Faye was always known for having a presence like thunder and a stare like lightning.

Instead, she took a long drag on her cigarette. "Oh, aye," she said, her McKinlian accent ever-present in her voice, not revealing that this was her ship. "Who needs to know?"

[arabella]

Arabella surveyed the woman before her. She wasn’t sure who she was but she could tell they weren’t far apart in age from what she could tell. She had a spirit surrounding her-at it was just her fiery hair. Arabella shifted her bags uncomfortably. She didn’t want to set them down in case she had to pick them up and leave to look elsewhere.

Shaking back her bangs, she shifted her weight the best she could. She could feel the strain of her bags-and the woman’s glare. Arabella never felt so intimidated by someone in her age group before. Biting on her bottom lip she waited for an answer. She wondered if that meant she was the captain. Or if she wasn’t? Arabella shook it off for now and decided to just answer her question.

“Arabella Hart. I’m a cook. I’m looking to find a ship to take me anywhere that my fare-or cooking-will take me.” She cleared her throat as she adjusted the duffel bag on her arm. She was careful not to catch her charm bracelet. It’s one of the things she valued out of most anything. Arabella avoided the woman‘s eyes. “I have money to pay for fare if you aren’t looking for a cook. Or I can pay and cook if it suits your captain. Or just cook.” She was starting to get nervous. And at times when she was nervous she would ramble a bit.

Sighing, she tried to reason everything she was saying. “Ok I don’t care where you are going and I pretty much don’t care where you drop me off as long as I am told I am being dropped off somewhere. I’m just traveling along the verse. I’m looking for a job as a cook, but I’ve found nothing permanent yet. So I’ve been flying about and cooking for various ships.” She was trying to avoid the gaze of the young woman before, but then she looked up at her. “I’m not looking for a job. I’m just looking for passage...anywhere.”

[davidriote]

As far as morning people went, Riley was not one. He and Nico had ended up on this piece of tzao gao planet the night before, and Riley had hardly slept. He was nervous about not only being in a new place, but about what the two of them would do about money. They had blown most of their platinum on the trip to Persephone, and now they would have to find a job. It was going to be hard: they were both drifters, and Riley was just a kid. He had taken an old pair of shears to his hair, and he did look a little older with the shag out of his eyes. Trying not to wake Nico, he made his way out into the street, tugging his light jacket a little closer to his body to guard against the chill.

Instinctively, he started walking to the docks. It would be the best scenario if he and Nico could get work on a ship. He knew if he stayed planetside, he would eventually get asked some pretty difficult questions about his age and past. The streets were empty this early, but as he reached the docks, he finally found some activity. A few people were bustling about, but his gaze was on the ships. He knew next to nothing about the vessels, but they sure were nice to look at.

He was so busy staring up instead of ahead, in fact, that he didn't see Delilah coming his way. She most likely thought he would move out of the way, or maybe didn't see him either. Either way, he collided with the woman rather roughly. Losing his balance, he fell to one knee with a grunt. Looking up with narrowed, angry eyes, although it was obviously his fault, he took in the pretty redhead. Cursing under his breath, he stood up and brushed his dusty hands on his trousers. "You okay?" He asked gruffly, as if angry he even had to ask. If it wasn't a pretty woman, he wouldn't have bothered, but even the ill-tempered Riley had his scruples.


ooc: If you want me to change the colliding, since it was a GM, let me know. Also, Nico, if you want to post now, fo ahead and I will change my post.

[zai]

Nico could sleep through anything one of the perks of being on his own for so long. He felt his stomach grumble and after trying to ignore it finally woke up to see Riley gone. Nico at first sat up and glanced around, but Riley's bags were still here. Riley always rose earlier than him so Nico stretched and assume the kid had gone off looking for work. Nico pulled on some clothes and himself exited the room making note that the door was locked and where everything was.

Walking along the road Nico had to admit a part of him has always loved this placed. He just couldn't see himself living in one spot for an inordinate amount of time. What he really wanted was a crew. He needed to find a crew that needed someone like him working there and possibly a crew that couldn't see their lives without him in it.

Nico did see Riley however talking to a female. Nico not being one to block walked past, but turned around and smiled at Riley before turning back around and continue his search for an opportunity. Nico went to a small stand that was smelling some of the most delicious smelling foods and though he wasn't sure what it was he bought some and took it bite. It was juicy, warm, and it was good. Nico continued eating and looking through various things when his eyes landed on decent parts for a ship. If the ship was a simple two engine and needed the capacity of an outward thrust burn of a four engine (or even a four engine that needed something near five, five in a half) than Nico could rig these two parts to multiply the thrust. Unfortunately, it'll only last for approximate 5 minutes continuously and would need to recharge after every use, but imagine such a quick getaway.

Nico used the last of his money to buy the 2 small parts. He was going to get his own ship one day and this would help. Nico looked over the parts and was satisfied until he saw the part that he was going to use as a stabilizer. It had a tiny crack and would need insulating foam as a quick patch or better yet a fire gun to wield it together. Nico was staring at the pieces wondering and imagining all the possibilities.

"You going to introduce me to your new friend?"

Nico looked up and saw he had basically just walked in the middle of a conversation. He blinked slowly taking in the faces. He saw two beautiful woman and a man; a man who happened to have some interesting ship parts. Now this was awesome and hopefully an opportunity for Nico. He stared at the parts and almost reached out to touch them before stopping and catching himself.

"I assume those parts are for replacing some of your older parts. What are you going to do with the parts you don't need?" Please don't say sell, please don't say sell, please don't say sell?

[faye]

The girl in front of her started talking, and she didn't stop -- rambling, really. Faye quirked an eyebrow as she went on and on, talking about cooking this and fare that, forcing Faye to search for her point. She hated it when people did that. But she listened to what the girl had to say. Her name was Arabella Hart, and she was a cook looking for passage.

Faye took a drag on her cigarette and said, "Well, I'll take you on as a passenger, so long as you've got the fare and you can promise me two things, those two things being: one, you won't cause no trouble, and two, you at least make an attempt not to ramble like that to me again." Sticking her cigarette between her lips, she extended her now free right hand to the girl. "Captain Faye Murphy. Welcome aboard, Miss Hart."

No sooner had she said that than a lean brown-haired twenty-seven-year-old came into their view. Parker Tsing wasn't what she wanted in a mechanic. He was damn good at what he did, to be sure -- but it came with the price of a sharp, unforgivingly snarky attitude, something Faye didn't appreciate in somone on her crew. But she couldn't get rid of him. Parker was given to Faye as a bonus from a slaver by the name of Wu, a slimy sort with a bad temper. Despite all efforts to give him back -- Faye was strictly against slavery -- the deal was done, as was the paperwork signing him to her ownership for life. He sauntered up to them with a smirk, no doubt looking to introduce himself to this fine new piece of tail in front of him. Faye took her cigarette back out of her mouth and clenched her jaw. She'd have none of that nonsense on her ship, that was for sure.

"Well you picked the right boat. Mistress Murph. You going to introduce me to your new friend?"

She never understood that "Mistress Murph" stuff. He started out calling her "Mistress Murphy," even when she insisted he just call her Captain or something, and then it shortened to "Mistress Murph," and that confused her. "Mistress" implies respect, but "Murph," a shortened version of her name, suggested friendliness. It annoyed her. She knew she could beat him if she felt the inclination, but she wouldn't do that, not unless he did something truly worthy of being flogged, just like the rest of her crew.

"Very well," she said. "Parker, this is Miss Arabella Hart, our new passenger. Miss Hart, Parker Tsing, our mechanic."

It wasn't long after that, as well, that a young, strong-looking black man came up the ramp, looking dirty but hopeful and carrying what looked like two spare parts in his hands. She tilted her head slightly; what was this guy about?

"I assume those parts are for replacing some of your older parts. What are you going to do with the parts you don't need?"

Faye glanced from the man to the parts in Parker's hands and said, "That's a grand question. I suppose we'd sell them, though that's really up to my mechanic. What would your interest in them be, Mr. ...?" Her voice trailed off, implying the desire for knowledge of the man's name.

Meanwhile, Delilah was having a right nice time with her walk. She smiled as she looked around at all the nice things in shop windows, and people walking by. She was just about to walk into a nice little hobby shop, when --

Crash.

Delilah collided with a mass of human just a few inches shorter than herself. Bewildered by the sudden impact, she was sprawled backwards and landed squarely on her backside, issuing a rather loud noise between a shout and a sqeak. After a few seconds' recovery from the sharp pain, she was able to stand and look at the boy she'd run into. He was young, perhaps fifteen or so, and had brown hair and a bridge of freckles across his nose. He wore ratty clothes and a scowl, making his otherwise nice-looking face seem mean.

"You okay?"

He asked the question as though angry at something other than being knocked down accidentally.

"I'm all right," Delilah replied with a glowing smile. "Not grand, but I'll heal just fine." She tilted her head curiously, examining the boy. "What's wrong, then? You can't be angry simply at runnin' into someone. Happens to the best of us." She flashed him a kind grin.

[arabella]

Arabella sighed in relief. At least she had someplace to be for a little while. Even if it was just passage, at least it was someplace. She felt heat travel up her neck as she nodded. “Will do. I mostly keep to myself except when cooking.” A soft smile appeared on her lips. Adjusting her bags so she could handle the weight she extended her own hand and shook Faye’s. “Thank you Captain.” When they pulled apart their hands she suddenly thought of something. “Do you prefer to just be called Captain or something else?” That was one thing she always made sure to ask. Some didn’t like to be called Captain while other preferred it. Better to ask now then slip up and call her Faye and not have her like it.

Arabella had to relieve the stress off her shoulders. Even for a few minutes. The bags normally didn’t bother her, except when she had to walk around for a long time. And today counted as just that. It was more of a strain then anything else. Setting the two duffel bags and her smaller bag on either side of her. Reaching up she rubbed at a red spot on her shoulder from where the straps dug in. Yes, she might sell some more things soon enough.

Turning he head only slightly, she noticed the new comer. A guy walked their way towards them. He seemed to know her new captain. No, correction, he was a crew member. At least from what she could tell by the way he addressed her. Have had been on boats captained and full of men. She wondered, though, if there would be any other females or if Faye was it. Shrugging it out of her mind, she pushed her hair behind her ear.

Nodding at Parker she let a soft smile appear on her lips as she extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.” The least she could do was introduce herself before asking to be shown someplace to sleep. Even if it was just a bunk, she could deal. Later, when things had settled, Arabella would ask about cooking for the crew if Faye didn’t mind. It was something she could always do to give back besides just paying her fare and going.

[zai]

"Suppose we'd sell them, though that's really up to my mechanic."

Nico's face practically fell. He didn't have anymore money left. Perhaps the guy would take credits instead. Especially since Nico could probably use one of the old spare parts for any of a million ideas he had, but not if it was going to cost him money.

" What would your interest in them be, Mr. ...?"

"Nico," he said in a slightly less enthusiastic voice. "Actually, I don't need them, but they could prove to be interesting. For example these two pieces are useless, but if you wield them together like so..." Nico held up the two pieces and placed them together in an odd fashion. "And if you take an engine and place it here and here," Nico pointed to the two openings and was looking at the mechanic expecting his face to rise with the thought. "Presto! Extra burner boost to any engine."

Nico grinned like an idiot before his face again fell. "If I had a craft of my own. Now I just think of things and ya know save up." Nico looked at the girl beside him with her bags at her feet. "Are you taking on passengers or hired help?"

[radegrasan]

*OOC: It's my first time doing an RPG, so please, if I make a mistake, let me know.*

Rade wandered around the docks. He had already viewed a lot of ships that morning, but none of them he felt were suitable for him to fly. Most of them were rustbuckets just waiting to fall out of the sky, and Rade had no intention of putting his own life at risk.

Rade knew all too well that flying cargoships would be different than flying the smaller crafts he was used to flying as a privateer, but he was confident he'd manage. The time was finally there for him to leave Persephone, something he had been waiting for his entire life. Persephone never felt like home to him, and Rade was convinced he belonged out there in the skies, flying from planet to planet, making a quick buck and maybe stir up some trouble along the way as well.

Rade was just about to get convinced he wouldn't find a suitable ship this day, until he saw a bunch of people standing in front of a ship called the 'Riley'. The ship seemed in better condition than the ones he had seen that morning, and Rade decided this ship was about as good as it was gonna get for him. Rade checked his weapons and then walked up to the group of people standing in front of the 'Riley'. He threw down his duffelbag and said:

"Which one of you is the captain of this bucket of bolts?"

[faye]

OOC: Okay, I don't know whether Parker even still exists...so I'm going to assume he doesn't, since he hasn't been online in forever.

“Do you prefer to just be called Captain or something else?”

Faye smiled a little bit. How sweet of the girl to ask; at least she was well-mannered. "'Captain Murphy' or 'Captain' will do just fine, thank you," she said. Her ruffled feathers were quickly being soothed, knowing her new addition would be a soft-spoken cook and not something a little more obnoxious, like some passengers she'd had in the past. Hopefully, Hart's penchant for nervous rambling would be the only problem.

Faye turned back to the man called Nico and tilted her head curiously as he showed her something odd with the two spare parts in his hands. Granted, the ship was currently getting on with only Faye's minimal mechanical skills, but judging by the strong look of the young man, he could be useful to her in more ways than that. Mechanics came a dime a dozen on Persephone; she didn't mind taking one on without much thought, since she could just as easily pick up another one if he didn't work out.

"Are you taking on passengers or hired help?"

"As a matter of fact, Nico, it so happens we are," Faye said with a nod. "We're in sore need of a mechanic, among other things. You look like you're not so afraid of work. What d'you think o' joinin' our merry band?"

It was a clear, not-so-subtle offer -- then again, Faye was a clear, not-so-subtle person.

No sooner had she finished her sentence than she realized a new face had joined the group. Another young man, this one white and tall, with brown hair. Had an air about him that made him seem cocky. Faye didn't like him already, and she soon found it would only get worse.

"Which one of you is the captain of this bucket of bolts?"

Faye's jaw dropped. Her formerly soothed feathers were now decidedly ruffled once more.

"That would be me," she said, and her voice suddenly took on a quality similar to that of razor blades. She set her coffee down, threw her cigarette on the ground, and stomped it out as she took a few steps toward the impudent swine. "Captain Faye Murphy. And get this clear, 'cause I'll only say it once: this is the Riley, and the Riley is a 'she,' not an 'it,' and what she certainly isn't is a goddamn 'bucket o' bolts!' Do we have an understandin' between us?"

She didn't wait for an answer before taking another cigarette out of the pack in her pocket and lighting it. "Now, you're either gonna state your business or clear off, and I mean sharpish. Ya hear that? Spit it out, boyo, or get movin'."

No one insulted Faye Murphy's boat. No one.

[arabella]

Arabella shifted uncomfortably. She desperately wanted to be off the core and away from anyone who could recognize her-especially since she wasn’t wearing her wig. She tried to hide her unease as she would have trouble explaining that bit to the captain. Or anyone else for the matter. Who knew if someone would want to turn her over for the ransom? She knew of one captain in the past who had tried. Arabella had to sneak out in a box of cargo so as not to be discovered.

Another soft smile played on her lips as Faye spoke about ways Arabella could address her. She liked knowing what she could properly call someone as not to slip up and say something wrong. “Ok Captain Murphy.” Arabella more then likely would jump between the two at random will. As long as she wasn’t pestered too much about her past, Arabella figured she could get along well enough. She normally didn’t have problems with anyone. Though she quickly figured there may be few females on board. Hopefully there were no altercations like the one which constantly haunted her.

There were two newcomers so Arabella held off on asking where to settle down. She grabbed her bags and moved them out of the way a little, but settled them back on the ground. She sat on the one which contained her clothing and watched the two gentlemen. With her right arm perched on her knee, Arabella rested her chin in her hand and watched the three before her. The one named Nico was also looking for passage it seemed. And he seemed rather skilled when it came to engines-at least from what she could tell. Arabella didn’t know much about them besides the few times she had helped out the mechanic of ships as a way of paying for her passage. Faye seemed eager to hire him from the way she offered him a job so quickly. That was the main reason she had trouble finding a job as a cook-no ship needed one unless they were large scale Alliance ships who needed professional chefs to cook for the crew. And trying to find a job as a cook on the outer rim was even harder because most of the locals already held what jobs there were. It was just something she had to deal with seeing as she decided to leave her grandmother’s.

The other one’s name she didn’t know but he made a huge mistake even she knew not to make in her time traveling the verse: he offended a captain’s ship. Arabella jumped at Faye’s tone. Yes, definitely not a good time to ask about a bunk or room-whatever she could be offered. Arabella bit down on her lip looking around. She clearly remembered a certain man named Brian that she ran into on Shinon who said he was the medic on here. She wanted to stop by and possibly explain the change of hair color before there was an altercation between him, Arabella and the captain of the ship. That could be a dicey situation to say the least. Especially since the captain was not in the best of moods due to this new comer.

[radegrasan]

Rade had just finished his sentence and was now waiting for the captain of this ship to come up and give him a piece of his or her mind. Rade had applied to ships before, and some of the captains he met send him on his merry way, without even hearing what he had to say. He wasn't about to let it happen again. He was leaving Persephone, today, no matter what. Rade knew that whoever was captaining this ship, he had to grab his or her full attention from the first moment. Rade had always heard that the worst thing you could do was insult a captain's ship so he figured he'd go and do that. Sure, maybe something bad could happen but Rade was always ready for trouble, and always ready to cause it as well.

While Rade waited for the captain to jump up he had a quick look at some of the other people standing around. The first one to caught his eye was a pretty little blonde, who had a dreamy look about her, like she was already lost but not looking to be found. The second one that caught his attention was a thuggish looking fellow who seemed like he was about to break some sensitive mechanical stuff. Rade didn't like thugs. At all. And this guy had thug written all over him. Rade wondered whether or not he had seen the guy shaking down his father a couple of years back. If this guy was the captain, Rade would eat his boot. There was no way this guy would even be smart enough to get this ship off the ground, let alone fly it through the 'Verse.

Then, the moment Rade had been waiting for. A pretty redhead, who looked like she had been around the 'Verse more than once started talking in a McKinlian accent.

"That would be me," the girl said.

"Bingo!" thought Rade, and braced himself. Whatever she was about to spew in his way, he was ready for it.

The pretty captain put down a coffee mug, put out a cigarette in a way not fit for a lady, and put a few steps toward Rade until she practically stood face to face with him.

"Captain Faye Murphy. And get this clear, 'cause I'll only say it once: this is the Riley, and the Riley is a 'she,' not an 'it,' and what she certainly isn't is a goddamn 'bucket o' bolts!' Do we have an understandin' between us?"

Oh how Rade loved that McKinlian accent. It added more character to this girl, as if she didn't had enough already. It became clear to Rade that working with her would be quite the pleasure, or at the very least interesting.

The girl lit up another cigarette, and Rade waited with saying anything because he knew she wasn't done talking yet.

"Now, you're either gonna state your business or clear off, and I mean sharpish. Ya hear that? Spit it out, boyo, or get movin'."

Now that he had caught her full attention, like he wanted to, it was only a matter of convincing her he was the right guy to be taken into her crew. Rade decided to keep up his cocky act a bit longer, and smiled at the redhead captain.

"Pleasure to meet you too, captain." said Rade. "My apologies for calling your fine ship a bucket of bolts, but I had to get your full attention somehow. Allow me to introduce myself. The name's Rade Grasan, and I'm the guy you want flying this ship. I'm also the guy you want standing next to you in a firefight. I'm the best pilot and best marksman you're gonna find on this rock, and not hiring me would be the biggest mistake of your career. And that's not me bragging, that's fact."

Rade talked firmly and fast, so that his soon-to-be boss wasn't able to get in a word between. Rade knew that in this 'Verse, sometimes you had to overwhelm people in order for them to listen. Not intimidate like the thugs he hated so much do, but just overwhelm them with words. Sure, words were cheap, Rade knew that. But he wouldn't talk the talk if he couldn't walk the walk.

And Rade wasn't just anyone either. Maybe he wasn't THEE best pilot on the planet, but he sure as hell was in the top 5. He didn't go to flight school, instead an Independent veteran pilot taught him how to fly, in exchange for him doing chores and help his teacher with various jobs. That was, until his teacher blew his own brains out one day, because he couldn't live with the guilt over what happened in Serenity Valley. The man was one of the pilots that were called back when a sergeant named Malcolm Reynolds called in air support. Rade just found him one day lying on the floor, and next to him a note with the man's old pilot wings on it. The note said Rade had earned them and Rade had cherished them ever since.

And being a marksman wasn't a lie either. His father had him practicing with his grandfather's old revolver since he was old enough to hold it. That revolver meant the world to him. It was the one he always used, it was modified to a point of madness, and since Rade was righthanded it was strapped to his right tigh. Rade carried two additional weapons too, one was in a holster on his left hip, and the other one was concealed on his back.

Rade could shoot the ace out of a card from 200 yards, and he always figured if he was lucky enough to serve in the Unification War on the Independent side, there would've been much more casualties on the Alliance side.
But he couldn't. He was too young at that moment, only 13 years old.

Rade was here, in the now, standing face to face with the pretty redhead captain, who didn't know she had his future in her hands.

Rade could only hope this woman liked rogues...

[zai]

Nico nodded to the captain. "Aiight, I'll be back with my things in less than 5mins or so." Nico had to get back to Riley and tell him about the Captain who was hiring and to get his his young scrawny arse up there or he'll miss out. Nico was just walking away with a huge smile when he heard some guy make one huge mistake. Nico snickered looked the man over and stood there for a moment. Nico should have known that red head captain was firey and could handle her own. She put one foot right up that man's bum than inserted her other and jumped. Nico shook his head and nodded at the blond before walking off.

Nico made sure he was a bit of distance away before half walking half jogging to their rented room. Nico hadn't seen Riley since this morning and when he opened the room door it was still empty. Nico collected his things and put a huge note on the door, the bed, and on a few of Riley's things screaming "Captain of the Riley Hiring!"

Nico wasn't sure if Riley was gonna stay since he met that pretty thing or if he was going to move on. Nico hoped Riley was gonna come with him and would try to hold the captain up as much as he could until he knew the answer. Nico grabbed the last of his things, which wasn't much, and exited the room. It was a good thing the room was already paid for as he left the lobby, especially since he didn't have anymore money, and made his way back to the Riley.

[darkreaction2]

ooc: I'm going to post as if Bri has already joined the crew, if that's okay...if not, I'll change/delete it. =]

It had been some time since Patterson had been stationed long-term on a ship. He had been up late swapping stories with Faye and settling his meager medical supplies into the room they would be using as a clinic. As it was, he was still able to rise rather early. Readying himself was a simple task; he didn't dress like most doctors. Brian had always been casual, and today was no different. The only adornments he wore were his thick bracelet and watch; he hid the tattoos on his wrists with them during his time as an intern, and now the act of wearing them was just habit.

As he walked through the ship, he noticed that no one was around. He ducked into the galley for a quick breakfast, cleaning up fastidiously after himself. Brian was clean and precise in just about everything he did. When he was finished, he headed for the ship's entrance, hoping to find Faye or Delilah there. As he approached, he saw it stood wide open and he could hear voices. One, a male's, stopped him dead in his tracks. Whoever this mystery man was, he had just called the Riley and 'bucket of bolts'. Not exactly the most tactful way to introduce oneself to the captain of said ship. Sure enough, Faye's voice was the next he heard. Her tone could cut steel, and it was obvious the man had vexed her.

Quickly, Brian stepped out to stand beside his captain. He was momentarily disoriented to see that as well as the man who'd insulted the Riley, there was also a blond girl standing near Faye and another man walking away. Hands sliding into his pockets, he narrowed his eyes to sweep his gaze over the young man, who was explaining his rudeness as simply a way to 'get her attention'. Whistling lowly, Brian shook his head. "Problem, Faye?" He asked quietly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as they shifted to look at her. He knew damn well how sharp her tongue was; she wouldn't need him to step in. Although he felt protective of her because of past circumstances, he had to remember that she was no longer an injured girl, but the strong captain of the ship he was now serving on. He had to let her sort out this young man. If Brian undermined her now by lashing his own tongue at Rade in her defense, she'd not soon forgive him for it.