"Wise decision, Saskia," the doctor notes, considering the menu then snapping it shut.  "Your vengeance would have me running for days, trying to keep the poor technicians alive."

"The garden salad, if you would," she requests of the server, then remembers the day's frantic activity.  "If possible, a plate of lightly steamed legumes in a balsamic vinagrette, and a side of cold tofu?"  A hint of a smile touches her lips.  "As for the beverage, I will start with water, but would like to try your Cìshà green after the meal."

The meal, when it comes, is a delight, the legumes crisp, the salad a mix of varied, complimentary flavours.  The tofu is, of course, cold and unadorned, but Shui, accustomed to such fair, enjoys its simple, bitter flavour.  When the tea finally arrives, she draws in the delicate aroma, closing her eyes against the memories it raises.  Home.

Those eyes snap open at Jago's comment.  "You tease me, Captain Lanza," she returns with a smile.  "What I coax out of our machine cannot compare to what they produce here, I am certain."  Though in truth, they did well with the tea.  Her eyebrows rise at the decision to redecorate.  We must have truly done well.

They rise higher as Jago continues, then relax as she takes her cheque with a small, nodding bow.  "My thanks, Captain Lanza."  The steward leaves the envelope closed for several heartbeats, taking a sip of her tea.  But tradition is different here - Jago will want to see their reactions, and there is nothing rude about opening it immediately.  So she does.

The eyebrows rise again, as her eyes widen.  "Captain Lanza?"  Shui blinks.  Far more than what I can use.  "An enormous honor you do us."  Biting her lip in surprise, Shui stares from the cheque to the heavyset man, then back again.

She needs to ask him about the Profit Margin's debt, and the possibility of her weighing a large portion of these earnings against it - a drop in the bucket, but every little bit off the principle would help.  But not here - such questions are better suited for privacy.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Fri 08 May 2009.

"Nearly as good.  Lacks that final touch, though," Yas comments on the coffee.  "It's all what you are used to, I suppose, but it doen't taste at home, narmean?"

She takes the envelope Jago offers and looks at it on both sides.

"Fancy envelope.  Too fancy for a pink slip, so I suppose I'm safe," she says with a grin and opens it.  Pulling the contents out enough to see what it is she shoves it back in again, then out again a bit before pushing it back in again.

"Hmph," she comments and holds the end of the envelope to wave it at Jago.  "You know I can't spend all this on guns that are legal, so I'll invest in the ship.  Could do with a few items to tighten security and general safety.  Plus, with the new outfit I have no need to shop much for another decade or so," she points out and shoots a wide smile over at Jago.

Saskia opens the envelpe, and pulls out the contents.  She studies the slip of paper, before placing it carefully back inside and reaching for her drink.  Her expression is completely blank the whole time, as she finishes her brandy in a single swallow.

Then she pushes the envelope back towards the captain, "Jago.  I think there's a mistake on this.  There's too many zeroes."

“It’s only what your due Shui,” Jago responds to the medic with a smile.

Yasmin’s comment has him drawing deeply on his cigar and watching the rising smoke as it drifts towards the extractor vents, “you think? I’m not sure I’m ready to start issuing shares just yet.”

His contemplative spell is broken when Saskia tries to return the envelope. Chuckeling quietly Jago pushes the envelope back to , “I expect it’s right Saskia, the bank wouldn’t have drawn it up if I hadn’t deposited the finds. My only concern now is that some of you might take it into your heads to retire or something.”

“The draught I handed over to Jockram did have an extra zero; his face was a picture. The rest I’ve split as usual, half to the ship, the other half equally between you guys.”
.

"Well, if you won't let me invest in my home I might have to consider retiring, boss.  Perhaps take up residence on the other side of the cargo hold," Yas says with a mock sigh and shakes her head.  "Besides, if I was to keep this around I'd need extra security for that alone."

"So yeah, I think," she rounds off, complete with another grin.  "I don't much believe in saving things for tomorrow, as you know, since I might not be around to enjoy my savings."

And again, Saskia pushes the envelope back across the table.  "In that case, would you mind looking after it for me, just until I have time to think what I want to do with it."

She smiles, although it looks a little weak, "Otherwise I'll just blow the lot on the first set of solid gold microdrivers I see, or something stupid like that.  So hold it, until I can make a sensible decision, instead of impulse buying something."

"A wise person knows their limits," Shui notes.  "Though you did well enough buying your coat, Saskia."  She honestly doubts the tech would throw it away - she'd bet her entire bonus that a core of common sense lies beneath Saskia's seemingly scattered mask.  There's definitely more to this book than the cover shows - the steward gets glimpses between the covers from time to time, and suspects the simple binding conceals a fascinating story.

She listens carefully to the discussion between Jago and Yasmine, as it parallels her own concerns.  It would seem that while the marine isn't interested in taking no for an answer, Jago may very well hold steady against her assault.  "My thanks, Captain Lanza," she quietly replies to his compliment.  "I may see if there is something I can purchase for the medical bay.  There are, no doubt, more advanced instruments and equipment that could prove...useful in the future to bolster my own skills."  Skills that are sadly lacking, Shui would be the first to note.

Anything to ensure the safety of patients in her care, and if it increases the value of the ship?  Merely a bonus.

"Of course," she continues, shooting a glance at Saskia, "I would need your input, Chief Engineer Blake."  A deliberate choice of the formal reference, given the official nature of the request.  And some delicate humor in the formality, of course.  "Power requirements, structural necessitites...one doesn't just purchase large medical equipment willy-nilly."

Tylen takes the envelope, and slips it into the pocket of his new jacket. He figures that, no matter the amount, Jago will have played straight with the crew and that, as he currently has no use for the cash, it would be best invested in his retirement nest egg. He glances at the menu, glad that he actually rather enjoys Groat.

"The bonus is much appreciated Boss, but right now all I can think about is a nice thick  braised Groat steak with whatever the 'vegetables in season' are on this planet. That and a nice bottle of red wine will do me very nicely."

With the meal over, and the bonus paid out, there doesn't seem to be much else to do.  Saskia's envelope still lays on the table, waiting for Jago to take it into safe-keeping until such time as the engineer can think of something worth spending it on (in her opinion).

It will be a week before Profit Margin is ready to fly again, by which time, she will look a little different, both internally and externally, with a new airlock fitted just outside the bridge, and all-new decor in the passenger section.

That means the crew will have a week of shore leave here on Garda Vilis, a world with a half-decent Tech Level and a good quality port.  There should be plenty for them to spend the money on...

As the meal ends, Saskia’s money is spirited away to the warm and cosy confines of Jago’s pocket, “it will be in my safe, any time you want it,” he tells her with a smile, “though I may put it in the hotel safe until we leave.”

“You know, it’s been so long since I had any time off from the Margin, I’ve forgotten what I like to do on such occasions. I think I’ll just go and soak in a hot tub for a couple of days, until it comes back to me.”
.

A week?

Part of Shui rejoices at the time spent out in the open, breathing uncanned air, feeling the wind and sun on her skin, grown painfully pale after weeks and weeks within a ship.  Another part of her wants to curl up in the ship and hide.  Dangerous, walking around in the open, spending her money in the same place, day after day after day.

But surely... Only a week, she reminds herself.  She won't leave a long trail, not in that amount of time.

"I might spend some time in the wilderness," Shui muses.  "Somewhere I am not likely to run across any venomous fauna, of course."  She cocks an eyebrow at Jago.  "Of course, perhaps after a two-day hot-tub."  A visit to a local spa, should they have something along those lines.  There's nothing wrong with a little indulgeance, she considers.

"But I would like to get out and about.  Perhaps pick up something natural as a souvenir of this world."

"Unless you prefer solitude I could offer to come along, doc.  I have a fair amount of experience with living of the land and doing so well too.  I could do with some time to ponder what to do with my little nest egg," yas tells Sushi and awaits her answer.

"Well, assuming you don't mind company, maybe the three of us could go somewhere together?" Saskia chimes in, "A girls versus the wilderness, sort of thing.  We can always try not to hunt down every life form on the planet and turn them into fashionable articles of clothing."

She laughs then, "We'll have to settle for not getting lost though, since we can read maps, and aren't afraid to ask people for directions."

Shui brightens as the other two women show interest.  "Absolutely I would not object - the company would be most welcome, and while my theoretical knowledge of flora and fauna is sufficient, I am woefully weak in field experience."  She studies them both for a long moment, then a small smile steals onto her lips.  Still seated, the doctor bows.  "I thank you."

A small laugh escapes her at Saskia's witticism, and she inclines her head in agreement.  "True...though in all fairness, Mr. Dietz is more than a touch acquainted with navigation, and Mr. Ogresh, a former scout, is as unlikely to become lost as the inverse is for myself."  Her eyes sparkle for a moment.  "Captain Lanza...has experience dealing with chaos.  While he might lose his way, I suspect he would regain his bearings in short order."

"Hmm, you haven't seen any of them planet side, clearly," Yas inserts with a impish grin at the men and a mock sigh, continuing on the line of jesting that Sassy started.

Tylen chuckles,

"Jar-Heads always think they're the only ones who get survival training, mostly I think they have to spend years training them not to just shoot anything that they don't have to salute! I'd offer to come along, unless you're planning to make it a 'Girls only' thing, I reckon the Captain's generous bonus is more than I'm likely to want to spend here, though I might see if they have anything in the way of mechanical curiosities to go with my music box."

"Now, Tylen, maybe the ladies jus' feel like a little time on their own, away from your socks, and Jago's cigars." Conrad says, with a broad grin.

"I say we let 'em have that time.  It'll do 'em good to get some fresh air, an' some space to relax.  Then we can show up to save their skins when they get lost, an' there's a mouse in their tent."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:32, Fri 22 May 2009.

Shui waits for the back-and-forth between Yasmine and Tylen - some rivalry there, most certainly.  Perhaps it is services, perhaps something different.  Sure enough, it comes, and she hides a smile.  Conrad chimes in with his own humor, and the steward inclines her head.  "A mouse, yes.  For anything more dangerous, Mr. Dietz, we will have Ms. Crow do the job."

Abandoning jests for the moment, she glances to first Saskia, then Yasmine.  "I have no objection to others joining us...but I am not the only one on this outing.  Might I have the thoughts of our engineer and security chief?"

"Careful, Quadman, I dont' have to salute you, y'know...  As for others joining us, well, since we will allow mice," Yas says with a grin that sits quite askew, "a man or ten would pose no issue.  As long as they keep their socks away from me, anyway, or I'll have to put up a mousetrap."

"But if they come with us, we'll have to say all those horrible things we were planning on saying about them to their faces," Saskia says thoughtfully, "which would just be really rude."

Her expression drops into a sulky pout, "And you know how much we all hate to be rude to people."

"Separate tents, Ms. Blake, to keep Ms. Crow's safe from socks."  Perhaps it is the tea, reminding her of her younger days, those where she had the freedom to wander the factories before her duties swept her away.  Whatever the reason, Shui finds herself in a more whimsical mood.  "We can most certainly discuss the boys in private, safe from prying eyes and ears, and recall with amusement what was said when facing them over...whatever passes for breakfast," she finishes, with a shrug.  Civilization has its perks, after all.

With some horror, the steward realizes she needs to purchase some sort of portable coffee perker, useable upon a stove.  Certainly she cannot serve 'instant' coffee to her crewmates, no more than Saskia would be satisfied with a half-way welded patch.

"Of course, that runs both ways," she admits.

"Well, if we do this, I'll be really glad that Ridge isn't on the crew any more." Saskia comments, with a half smile, "He'd only insist that he should be allowed to share a tent with the three of us, and suggest that we could all put on some sort of sordid show for him.  Probably involving mud wrestling or wet T-shirts."

She sighs, "And then Yas would just have to waste ammo, and get her shotgun all dirty, shooting his mivonks off."

"Yeah, or ruin my fine machete on it," Yas sighs and pats the long blade at her side lovingly before cracking into a mischievous grin.

"But seriously, some downtime in the dirt, far from tech, could be just what I need.  No confined space, bring along my bike and...  Yeah, that's right, transport.  That depends who's coming, unless I drive," the ex-Marine states, twoards the end losing the seriousness again.

"I find myself more and more pleased he has left with every one of your explanations, Ms. Blake," Shui sighs, responding to Saskia's description of Ridge.  "I have hopes of finding somewhere with hot springs or the like, uncontaminated by heavy metals, or at least somewhere I could relax in the sun.  With such a person about, I would be forced to avoid these activities."  Mudwrestling.  She doesn't much like the sound of that, and with the 'wet tee-shirt' comment, can ably picture what it might entail.

"Sordid varies on the beholder," she notes, "but some things transcend culture."

"You mean subscend," Yas corrects the doctor with a wink.  "As for Ridge, yeah, well, he did have a few redeming qualities.  Or at least one.  I'm sure he had one, but he hid it well...  Right, Sassy?"