spring is planetside

[roxanne]

Roxanne was in the kitchen cleaning. She was in a rather upset mood. The day before she had spoken to her brother and cleared a lot of things up. Neither of them were upset with the other. Dad though, he was hurting. Roxanne didn’t want to come back to his ship. She liked the Orlando. And she was getting along with everyone there. But she wanted to talk to him. Tell him she didn’t blame him. That…she had wanted to blame everyone around her because of how hurt she was. Roxanne could now look through his things without crying or going into a mood. She had healed enough. Now, she wanted to heal things with her family. But her father didn’t want to. At least not yet. He felt he had lost a daughter, when really she just wanted to grow.

Roxanne didn’t even wear the engagement ring on her right hand anymore. It hung on a chain around her neck along with Nathaniel’s dog tags. She kept it tucked into her shirt during the day. Next time they went to Greenleaf, she’d have to take a day to go see his family. Bring them his things. Roxanne had everything aside she wanted. Photos, one of his shirts she liked to sleep in sometimes and some wooden figurines he had carved. She’d even give up the dog tags if his family wanted them. A little over two weeks ago she had sent them a wave. They had appreciated hearing from her and were happy the she would be bale to visit when Ben found it fitting to go to Greenleaf. They had talked for a couple hours. About happier times with Nathaniel-and how he had talked to his family about marrying Roxanne. They wanted her to be happy and move on; not feel the need to stay in touch or hold back. Roxanne said she wanted to stay in contact with them as long as they minded. As for dating, she wasn’t so sure about that yet. In fact, she hadn’t thought about it. She had only just started to really heal, and aside form that, she was in the air most of them time.

Which now brought it back to her being in the kitchen and cleaning. The floors had already been mopped, all dishes done and put away. Counters were wiped down. Now she was going through the fridge and the ice freezer. Some things had spoiled, plus it needed to be cleaned out. She went on a cleaning spree when upset. Her father wouldn’t talk to her and the one year anniversary of Nathaniel’s death had just passed. In the wave form her mother. She also thought it was a good idea for her to start dating. Roxanne hadn’t even began to think about it. No one here on the Orlando even knew about Nathaniel or the real reason she had left her father’s ship! How did she expect some guy out there to understand? Besides, she still hadn’t fully parted with the engagement ring. Roxanne was a believer in signs. She was waiting for the sign that it was time to really set that aside and put herself forward. No, not forget Nathaniel, but just…move on fully and completely. That was something her family didn’t understand.

With her hair pulled back into a giant messy bun, she wore a tshirt that she used whenever she cleaned. Her pants were a pair she normally used to sleep in and she was barefoot. The ice freezer had been chipped and washed down. She was really feeling accomplished but no better. Even the fridge was cleared out and done with. Her gaze moved around to see what else she could do. It fell on the hallway. The sitting area wasn’t that far off. She could clean up in there. Roxanne grabbed the vacuum, duster, polish and some rags. Eventually she’d come back for the mop. With a goal in mind she found her way she settled everything in a corner and began to dust everything. Vacuuming would be last.

[parkesy]

JD opened his eye's carefully and slowly, allowing them to adjust to the dim light of his quarters. He was curled up under his sheets, still fully clothed. After the job, he couldn't wait until he could retreat from the snowy cold, and into the warm depths of his bed.

He gave a long and weary stretch, while simultaneously yawning, before sitting up and rubbing his eye's. "That was the best sleep I've had in a while." He muttered to himself, in the kind of voice that says ' I want to go back to sleep'. He reached down to the floor, and picked up his tin and lighter. His room was the only place he would smoke. He wasn't sure if any of the others would appreciate a face full of smoke.
Lighting it up, and inhaling a big lung full of smoke, he proceeded to take a leak in the wall side toilet.

Finishing off his fag, he thought it would probably a good idea to have a wash, giving that he still had a bit of blood covering him. It took a while to wash the blood off completely, as it dried to his face, and now that it's all gone, he noticed a little scratch on his left cheek. He couldn't think for the life of him where it came from, but that's not important.
He changed his clothes too. "How the hell does this blood get everywhere?!", he said throwing his blood stained clothing into a pile in the corner, ready for washing.

He rummaged through his bag, and pulled out some spare clothes that he took with him after leaving home. He also found a picture of his Mum and Dad. In the picture, his mother was pregnant with baby James, and his dad dressed up in his independent uniform.
It must have been taken shortly after the war, when his father returned.
The picture made JD smile. He never knew his mum, and this was the only thing he had to 'remember' her by. He had always wished that she was around when he was a child. Sure living with his dad was cool. He was taught everything he needed to know. And his dad tried his hardest to fill in the gap created by her death. But it never seemed...right.

Putting on his creased black T-shirt, and cargo's, he put the picture on the bedside cabinet, and climbed the ladder out of his room.

The ship seemed quiet. Everybody was probably still asleep. He didn't blame them in the slightest, he wanted to go to sleep too. But he knew that if he did, he would end up sleeping all day. Not as though day or night had any significance out here.

He walked silently through the corridors, headed for the kitchen Via the living room, to make his morning brew. But didn't expect to see Roxie cleaning.
He thought about making a playful sexist joke, one of the ones his dad used to tell him, but thought that telling it to a woman was completely inappropriate, even if it is just a joke.
"Haven't you been to sleep yet?" He asked as he approached her, giving a warm, yet still very tired smile.
There was something a little different about her, but JD couldn't place a finger on it. She seemed kinda gloomy, as she slaved away cleaning every surface in sight, and probably those that aren't in sight too.

[[Hope you don;t mind me posting here, i didn't see an open to any one in the topic name or anything, just thought it'd be a good oppurtunity for some char development.]]

[roxanne]

Roxanne had a weird sleeping schedule lately. She’d sleep for roughly four to five hours each night. Then she’d nap for three or four more hours before dinner. In bed by eleven she’d guess, around three or four in the morning, maybe five. It was a rather routine for her, but not many people got that. Unless she had to land before dinner, she was out and nothing could wake her aside from the ship’s alarm and Ben. But Ben tended not to wake her up because she got very evil unless it was an honest to God emergency.

Hence why she was here. Roxanne could only guess it was sometime around 7:45. She’d already been up for a little under three hours. Which led to the impeccable kitchen-and the soon to be impeccable living room. She had dusted all the hard surfaces before she moved to taking the vacuum to every soft surface. This was something that Roxanne had only done twice before. When Nathaniel had died and before when she had fought with her parents about him. Now it circled back to him. The metal of the ring clinked against the dog tags.

As she finished the vacuuming and moved to polishing everything, JD walked in. Some stray bangs clung to her forehead and cheeks as she shrugged a shoulder. ”Yeah but I got plenty so I’m just doing busy work. Nothing for me to do but float around at the moment.” She straighten herself, rag in one hand and polish in the other. This was helping her bad mood, but not clearing her thoughts. Dang her family. ”Your up early. At least compared to everyone else. No one usually rises until sometime after eight or nine, unless there’s a job. Then they’re all antsy.”

[parkesy]

"Not much for any of us to do really." JD agreed with a slight shrug of the shoulders. When not on a job, it can get quiet quiet out here. That is unless they happened to bump into the alliance. Or worse...Reavers. As much a JD liked a good old shoot-out, he hoped to dear god that he never had to meet any.
"Well i woke up, and thought if i didn't get out of bed, I'd end up sleeping the whole day. So here i am!" He spoke, as he continued through to the kitchen, raising his voice so that he could still be heard in the next room.

His tea making skills where almost as good as his shooting. He did every thing with precise, and swift movements, sliding the cup into position, dropping the sugar and tea into it, not spilling a single bit.
He walked back into the lounge, stirring the tea slowly, and taking a sip. "Ahh, much better." He announced, before sitting down on the nearby chair, and momentarily jumping up, realizing that he still had his holsters on. They made it uncomfortable to sit, so he had to take them off, before settling down.

"So, what's with all the tidying?", He quizzed, simply making conversation, "Probably could have held out for a few weeks." He grinned at this, showing that it was more of a joke than anything. But if the tidying was left to him, that's what it would be like. Leave it to the last possible moment.

[roxanne]

Roxanne shrugged in agreement as she continued to polish things around the room. True. But still to sleep the same hours so we don’t mess up on the jobs.” Roxanne knew her sleep pattern as of late might pose a problem. A lot of caffeine and possible energizer boosts may be required if things didn’t change. Maybe she’d talk to George about natural ways to reset her sleeping pattern.

Roxanne shook her head in amazement at men. They always assumed they could be heard from anywhere but played the deaf ear when called out to except over the com. As he came back, she pointed a warning finger at him. ”Don't spill that anywhere. I just cleaned this place up and I still have to mop the floors.” Despite the way she pointed at him, there was playful tone to her voice. She had yet to explode at anyone on the crew. No one had angered her nor crossed her path when she was in one of her slumped moods. There was no reason for her to snap. And no reason for her to be upset with anyone at this point.

She paused in her work as she thought over his question. She could tell him the truth without giving him the whole story she figured. ”My family and I got into a disagreement over a wave. I didn’t want to explode at the crew here or continue with them, so I clean. It’s like my form of boxing.” She stepped down from the makeshift stepstool she had to clean the higher spots to face JD. Her headed nodded at his holster. ”I haven’t done target practice since the last ship I was on. Next time we’re planet-side and have a moment, could you shot with me? I don’t like shooting alone.” She stated it simply. JD was the gun hand, so it was natural he had to be one of the best. She didn’t want to bother Ben with this, especially since she had to ask him about landing on Greenleaf at some point. And mixing that with Ben and a gun just scared her.

[parkesy]

"Hmm, that's a good point." came his reply to the comment about the sleeping patterns. He took in what she dais, but knew deep down that he would do anything about it. He liked the way he slept, it was the only thing that really stayed the same since he left home.

When JD came back from the kitchen, carrying his cup of tea, he pretended to slightly lose his balance, feigning the action of spilling his tea, when in fact it just swilled in the cup a bit.
He grinned, jokingly, "Haha, don;t worry, i've had ALOT of practise with making and holding cuppa's." He told her. He was the 'tea maker' at home. anyone who came around, he would have to make a brew. And he hated it. Every time he was doing something he enjoyed, he would get interrupted with a "JD! Make a brew mate!".
He is just thankful that he's not the brew slave of the ship, it would drive him insane.

Sipping at his tea, he listened to Roxxanne's troubles. He wasn't expecting the reason for the cleaning to be something like that. More like hoping it wasn't. JD had never been very good at things like this, but he always tried his hardest to say the right thing.
"Huh.", and raising his eyebrows, in a slightly surprised look, was all he could manage.
"I don't mean to bee pushy or intruding," He told her, "But if you ever need any one to talk to about it, you can always come and find me. It's not as though there are too many places I could be around here." He ended with a little chuckle. He knew that it was a generic comment, and likely to be said by the other crew members too. But he meant it. Even though he struggles with delicate situations like that, he is always willing to sit it out, and do his best.
He had a feeling that she probably wouldn't do so anyway. They had only known each other a short while.

Luckily She gave the opportunity, to change subject. And feeling a complete tool from his previous statement, he took it.
"Sure thing" he said, looking down at his pistols. "What's out next landing site going to be?".
Going shooting would probably help when talking. He felt more comfortable when shooting things. Not be cause he's a violent guy, just because it's the things he's best at, and doesn't have to worry about looking stupid.

[[bit of a lame post, but i'm in a bit of a rush. ]]

[roxanne]

Roxanne smiled at the fact that he seemed to have practice making tea. ”Do we have a former male companion in out presence?” She bowed regally and jokingly before she straightened and chuckled. She could handle jokes with the best of them. She had practically been raised by all men aside from her mother. ”Only joking. I prefer a nice jab of coffee myself. Or just a shot.” While she had her girly moments, the fact of having more male then female influences had pulled a lot on her. Such as the fact that she preferred pants over skirts and wore little make-up. Also, tea wasn’t exactly, well, her cup of tea. If she had a choice, in the morning she’d either have coffee or a shot. Things her mother didn’t like so much.

Her shoulders traveled up and then fell downwards. ”Thanks for the offer, but that’s what a journal is for.” She didn’t want to come right out and say that she didn’t want to talk to him about it. In fact, there was no one on this ship she trusted enough to talk about that with. Nathaniel’s death and the events that followed were touchy for her. Especially with her 27th birthday looming just around the corner. It was a little under two months off. As far as she knew, no one knew about it. That’s how she wanted to keep it too. Especially since if her parents hailed her in a wave, it would prove to be tense. She left just after her birthday last year.

As she finished up the polishing, a quizzical look spread over her face. ”Well, I‘m not sure. I’m thinking of asking Ben to stop on Greenleaf. Not that far off from where we are. About four or five hours? We could settle there for a couple days. Fuel up, get some supplies. Maybe find a job.” I could go visit some family of the sorts… But Roxanne kept that part to herself. No need for anyone to figure it out. ”Just got to wait for him to get his bum out of bed and ask him.” Instead of mopping right away she plopped on the couch and lounged across it. The last couple hours of cleaning was something she could feel throughout her body now.

[benbarrow]

Ben woke up. He had another dream about the war again. Not a nightmare, but just a dream. For some reason he constantly dreamed that the war didn't stop in 2511 on Hera. He always dreamed that the war was still going on for some reason.

He stood up and walked up to the sink in his bunk while he wiped the sleep out of his eyes. He washed himself up and then got dressed in the same outfit he always wore: a buttoned shirt with jeans and his old warboots.

A big day today. In a few hours they'd be on Persephone, and they had to meet up with Minerva Colt, a dangerous crime boss who luckily was interested in the guns they'd be selling. Ben had heard on the cortex two days ago that Murdo Dunstan had been murdered, and luckily he was able to find a new buyer so fast. Although some of the stories that he had heard about Minerva Colt would even make a war hero like Ben think twice. Yet, he had no choice. The guns were hot, and they had to get moved fast.

Ben climbed the ladder out of his bunk and walked over to the common area. The smell of cleaning product welcomed him, and Ben was wondering which one of his crew had taken the initiative to clean up.

It was then he saw Roxanne and JD sitting there, and considering JD was drinking a cup of tea, Ben figured it was Roxanne who must've done all the cleaning.

"Mornin' children!" Ben greeted them. "You all are up early."

[parkesy]

JD laughed at being perceived as a Male companion. "Nah, but had always thought it a good career option for me though." He joked back.
JD wasn't aware that drinking tea was something referred to companions. His father used to grow tea leaves at home, something that he picked up from his adventures around the 'verse. He never called them adventures, because to him adventure meant the kinds of adventures fictional characters had. Not watching friends getting mowed down by alliance soldiers. JD often heard cries from his father sometime, in the middle of the night. Remembering all those he had lost during that horrible time.

JD didn't know anything about how to travel the 'Verse. But knew that if we could reach a buyer without having to stock up on rations and food, Ben would probably dismiss making an extra stop. The guns would need to get shifted asap. If The Orlando where to come across an alliance cruiser, who want to make a search. A cargo hold full of guns wouldn't look to innocent. Not to mention that the guns are probably marked.
But the possibility of a new job might persuade him otherwise.
But as said before, JD didn't know about how things out here work. He's not paid to know, he just shoots things.

Not long after Roxanne spoke about Ben, he walked into the common room, and seemed pretty happy too.
"Yeah well, Got work to be done. Can't be sleeping all day."[/b[ He said, despite It was clear that he wasn't going a thing, "Unlike some people" He poked at Ben, with a cheeky grin stuck on his face.

" Sleep well?" he asked his captain. Nothing like a good old kip after work. He wanted to know what the crew next move was, but thought that could wait for a while. it doesn't hurt to take a break from work once in a while

[georgewest]

George woke up slowly that day. He lied there with his eyes closed for a few minutes before submitting to wakefulness. A few more minutes passed until he rolled on to his back and a few minutes more before he sat up. Thoughts of the recent St. Alban's job played through his memory. Images of every single death and dead body he had ever seen began recycling through his mind. Few of them had been directly due to him. He rarely even had a gun during the war.

This was one of the drawbacks from being immune to the horrors of the war and his younger life. Random mornings would come when this would happen. It could last for a few minutes to a few hours. He was on the lucky end this time. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. It was during this that he realized he had been crying.

He forced himself to smile. He thought about the new medical supplies he had managed to grab from the station and the fact that nobody he cared about was hurt. He finally got up out of bed and went to his small closet. He grabbed a red t-shirt and some black pants and began dressing when he heard voices and walking coming from the upper floor of the Orlando. He then reached over to a nearby shelf and grabbed a few chocolate bars he had been saving for their first successful job.

He exited his room and (by habit) checked the infirmary to see what supplies he had and to make sure nothing got jostled or broken. From there, he proceeded quietly up the stairs and toward the dining area. At the top of the stairs, he was greeted by the scent of cleaner. Someone got up early.

He walked over and saw Roxanne, Ben and JD up and about.

"How's everybody doing?" he said, still holding on to his false smile. It usually wasn't false. Usually he was a happy person who could go through the Battle of Serenity Valley and not be affected. Today he was going to have to act.

"Here, I brought something to celebrate a job well done," he said as he tossed the chocolate bars on to the table.

[benbarrow]

Ben laughed at JD's crack at him. It was exactly this loose kind of atmosphere he could appreciate.

"Sleep well?" JD asked.

"Like a baby." Ben answered. "And dreaming of the big pay-off that is waiting for us on Persephone."

Ben sat down on the couch next to JD and put his feet on the table in front of it.

"Need you to come with me to Minerva Colt's place tonight." Ben told JD. "This woman has a violent reputation and I'd rather not meet her all by my lonesome. Not that I'm expecting any trouble but you never know."

George then came into the room. He was smiling but Ben saw in his old friend's eyes that something was up. He'd have to ask him later if he was okay, in private.

"Mornin' pal." Ben greeted him. "Well, we're all peachy. How are you?"

George then congratulated everyone on a job well done, and threw some chocolate bars on the table. Ben lifted his feet from the table and grabbed one of them.

"Alright, breakfast!" Ben said as he peeled the wrapper from the bar. "Thanks buddy!"

Ben then put his feet back on the table and laid back on the couch again while eating the bar of chocolate.

"Ah yes, this is the life." Ben said. "And as soon as we get paid for those guns we're off to New Dunsmuir on Beaumonde for a well earned vacation. Ocean, beach, cocktails and ladies in bikini's!"

Ben then looked at Roxanne and smiled at her.

"And of course, for the ladies among us, enough stores to go on a seven day shopping spree." He added.

[roxanne]

Roxanne’s laughter ringed out at JD’s joke as her head turned to face Ben as he entered. She could feel her bones begin to ache just enough from her adventures cleaning. Her shoulders traveled in a shrug as she smiled at her captain. ”Well not all of us are bed bugs after all.” She let the rag that had been in her hand fall to the ground next to the couch. Everyone was getting up so she’d finish things sooner or later. Her lips formed an O shape as she whistled a cheerful tune. Or as cheerful a tune as she could muster. Her thoughts were still all over the conversations she had held over the last couple days.

As George joined the rest of them, she decided to pull her legs up to free up another seat on the couch. No way was she giving up her position laying down at the moment. ”Better. Been cleaning which helped my mood.” Her body twisted to reach for a bar of chocolate. Maybe something sweet would help with her mood. ”Thanks George! You going to indulge in some yourself?” Her head half-hung off the couch to look up at him. Her eyes were filled with warmth for her crew mates. Even if she was frustrated with other things going on, she had no angst towards any of them. Besides, none of them knew her story. As she nibbled on the bar, she fiddled with the dogs tags and the ring on the chain around her neck as she peered at Ben. ”You want me to have the ship ready in case we have to make an escape from this Minerva?”

There was a pause as she decided to ask what she needed. She swung her legs around to the floor as her body swiveled into an upright position. Roxanne’s eyes were a little downcast as she thought over everything. ”Hey Ben, do you mind if we stop off in Greenleaf along the way to Beaumonde?” As she glanced around at everyone else, her gaze settled upon Ben. Her tone suggested it was something serious and important to her. ”I have someone I need to bring some…things to. Wouldn’t put us off more then a couple hours.” Her teeth bit down on her lower lip as she hoped that he would say yes. It was important that she went and saw Nathaniel’s parents soon. Though Ben had smiled at her about the shopping, the smile on Roxanne’s lips was very faint and far off.

[benbarrow]

"There's no running away from Minerva Colt Roxie." Ben said. "I'm planning on doing business with her, not to start any trouble. And I'd hate the idea of having to move the guns to another planet to sell them."

Ben took another bite from the chocolate bar. It had been at least a few years since the last time he ate some chocolate. He couldn't remember the last time when he did. That's why he savored the taste of it with every bite.

"And Greenleaf?" Ben asked. "Well I suppose that should be possible, although I would like to know what it is exactly you're bringing, and to who. You're not making any deals behind the rest of our backs, now are you?"

There was no making deals on their own for the crew of the Orlando. Ben wouldn't have any of it. Everyone got an equal amount of whatever there was to share, and Ben wouldn't allow any of them to make deals on their own that could possibly endanger the ship or its crew.

[parkesy]

Ben told JD of what the plans where for the guns, and also who they where selling them to. Minerva Colt.
JD seemed to recognise the name from somewhere, but could put a finger on it. But as it is not a problem right now, (And fingers crossed, won't be later) JD forgot about it. "Leave you to all the talking then?" he asked rhetorically. It was obvious that Ben would do the dealings, JD was there, as he said, in case something happens.
Just as well. JD's not good with people with a violent reputation. He tends to unintentionally provoke them. So JD will just keep quiet, and look tough.

It seemed everybody was waking up now, George came in and joined the group. JD was about to reply to the ships medic, but Ben beat him to it, answering for the three of them.
And to add to the mood, George bought some chocolate!
JD had never tried chocolate before. Not even on his brief stay on Persephone. It was just never a common commodity on Triumph.
He was a bit sceptical at first, seeing the textures and colours of the snack, as Ben and Roxxie dove in. To him it looked horrible, but the reactions from the two, made him second guess his instinct.
"Cheers, George." He thanked him as he reached forward for the bar.

He held it in front of him for a moment, looking at it as if it was going to tear his eyes out or something. But bit the bullet, and ripped open the packaging, and taking a nibble. "Mmm, that's actually pretty good." He mumbled to himself, before taking a larger bite.
He followed, with the lax attitude everybody was taking, and slouched in his seat, sliding his feet outwards, and giving them a stretch.

JD didn't know much about a lot of planets. Most of what he knew was in a brief info sheet on the wave. So all he knew of Greenleaf, was that it was alliance controlled, but how controlled, was another question.

[roxanne]

Roxanne didn’t know much about this Minerva character so she simply nodded. ”Ok, just didn’t know my part in this. Suppose if you don’t need me by your side I’ll just stick around here. It was about all she could do. From what she supposed, she couldn’t leave ship in case some Alliance federals came sniffing around. Divert them away possible. Or just keep the ship locked up tight.

All of a sudden her appetite was gone about a quarter of the way through the chocolate. She pulled the wrappings over it as she set it on the table. She supposed it was time to tell everyone about why she had to go to Greenleaf-and hwy she had left her father‘s ship. So Ben wouldn’t lose faith and trust in Roxanne.

”No, nothing like that. I…” She trailed off as she got a little choked up, but cleared her throat to stop her emotions. ”About a year ago the man I was dating was killed on a job with my father and brother. His family lives on Greenleaf and I have his things. I’d like to be able to bring them to his parents.” Her eyes never left Ben as she spoke to him. She wanted him to know that she meant everything she said truthfully. ”It’s bad enough we had to mail his body under the radar because we couldn’t afford to fly there. Nearly got caught doing it too. I just…I need to bring them and myself closure.”

Roxanne was about ready to lose it but she held her composure. This was the first time since his death since she had talked to anyone aside from her father and the crew on his ship about the death. Roxanne didn’t want their sympathy nor their “I’m sorry’s’. She simply wanted to get up and move on. Her hand shook as it continued to fiddle nervously dog tags and ring around her neck.

A deep breath was drawn in. "I do want to visit them alone. They'd meet us at the docks and I'd be back within an hour or two. You wouldn't miss me." She tried to put a lighter note seeing as she probably brought the mood down a considerable level.