Jacqueline sips her wine slowly as Emerald talks, "As of right now, that's exactly true..."

She swirls her wine thoughtfully, going over the questions that Emerald mentions.  It's interesting, yes, and to ignore such an obviously large movement from someone as big as the Lockman Empire was foolish.  Whether she cared for big politics or not, this could make obvious waves for the casino here.  Then again, it could also be nothing, and may have no impact on what she was doing at all.

She sighs, muttering "... it IS worth looking into." Slowly, she shakes her head, having said that more to herself than Emerald, "Okay, I think you've sufficiently piqued my interest on this by now. As I said, I have meetings tomorrow, so I'm not entirely certain that I'd be able to personally look into this... but what would you say if I asked you to do a little information gathering for me, Miss Haynsworth?  Having you come back here and tell me you were able to learn about this contest and what it means?"

---

Sabre notices the various others staring at him and CHAD, and he shifts in his spot, feeling less than comfortable in his current position.  He nods at CHAD's pointing out of the Moogle and the fluttering light above him, though he isn't quite sure which is the source of the voice.

"CHAD, if this voice did not give you a rank, then you have no proof that it was of a higher rank. You were not given a proper briefing yet so that you could get settled and we could properly determine where to place you... However, if you wish for us to pull rank and treat this as if it were war-times, then fine." He pushes up his sunglasses officially, but tries to keep his posture calm, "CHAD, I am your commanding security officer.  I outrank the voice over there and am under orders to find you and return you to the ship immediately.  Conclusively, that means that you have orders from me and from MY commanding officers to return to the ship right now. Once there, you will return to the quarters that I showed you earlier, and wait there until I personally come to take you for your briefing..."

He sighs, not actually enjoying have to be so official, "Is that understood, CHAD?"

Nash politely mouths the line after Billy sings it, looking ahead as he thinks about it, "Oh... you DID sing it. I... I'm sorry.  I thought more like a poem or... or a lyrical verse or something." He takes a forcibly slow breath to calm his speech again, nodding slowly.

"I do remember it, Billy... It was a very unique song. Uhm... where did you learn it from?" His ears twitch as he mentally gets Amy's message, starting to think of ways to accomplish that.

Ask about him... get the glasses off. Why the glasses? They seem okay. How would you get yours off? You need to at least try. Why would you take your own glasses off? Maybe you have that in common...

As he thinks and listens, Nash idly reaches into his pants pocket and roots around for a light blue plastic case. Opening it with a click, he takes out a small, smooth, red cloth. Carefully, he removes his own glasses, revealing his squinting and horribly inefficient eyes as he cleans the dust thoroughly off of his glasses before putting them back on as he listens to Billy's potential response.

Elena smiles kindly back to Jason, telling him "You're very welcome. Now please lay back and hold still.  This will be easier that way, okay?"

Elena checks to make sure she has what she needs with her. There seems to be quite enough materials to make a proper cast, or at least a splint, and she makes certain she can set this up for Jason immediately.  With this all set, there is nothing left to do but unset Jason's leg from its previous state and reset it, holding it firm with a cast.

Not wasting any more time, the procedure begins, with Elena talking soothingly to Jason through the worst of it.

By the door, Miya seems unaffected by Hacksaw's hard words, keeping her face calm and her attitude collected. She does raise a brow as he mentions her being better suited for researching reality, but she doesn't react otherwise, "I see... We'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

Whether she's really considering it, or if she's simply done with this line of conversation, no hint is given in her tone or her posture.

Driz looks at Joe. "Correct."

Drizzeleaf mrfs as Nono suggests sticking around. "Pfff... fine." she jingles next to Nono, figuring Ray won't bite at his own master. Maybe. "I needed his measurements anyway... got any measuring doohickeys among your repairman equipment?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Sat 20 Feb 2010.

T'shock doesn't like what she just heard, but at the same time, is very quickly liking the source. "Well, Cid, you may have just saved my life. Thanks. I'll take your advice."

Emerald says, "Eh. Why not? And when I've done you this favor, maybe you can give me a thorough tour of your upcoming Casino." she smiles.

Hacksaw looks at Walter. "Tell me... what's your background?"

Jason is a much more agreeable patient than even he thought he would be as he relaxes more and more. Jason chuckles. "Me? Tough... heh... that's a laugh..." the bone is now set in the correct position.

Billy says, "I wrote it... for my daughter." his smile looks relaxed and content. "She's my world. Not here on this settlement at the moment, but maybe I can introduce you to her some day."

Amy telepaths, "They are sunglasses, Nash. He doesn't *need* them unless he's blind... and by now, you know he isn't."

  Joe's lack of anything better to do thought processes go to work again, and they find themselves following Nono and Ray.  "I suppose if reason fails, elbow drops might have a slightly better chance of convincing them not to eat people."

  Joe considers the tall guy by the alley, and is silent for a moment before saying "I could give you their measurements."  Having a video recorder inside your head among other things sorta helped there.

Ray gives up keeping an eye on Driz now that he'd have to twist his head quite a bit to look at her.  As for her using Nono as a shield from being munched, he'd have a hard time chomping at her with his beak still strapped shut.  Nono on the other hand DOES bother keeping an eye on T'Shock, or rather, her ship.  He really wants to see it zip off at ludicrous speed.

"My tailoring tape measure is back in my ship, Kupo," Nono answers Driz, "Sounds like Joe here has a knack for eyeballing that anyhow.  So... why is Chad staring down an alleyway with nothing more than garbage in it, and who's that with him?  He looks familiar somehow."

This said upon arrival at the alleyway.  Nono would introduce himself, but figures the two men are in a conversation and doesn't want to interrupt.

Walter hrms and raises an eyebrow at Hacksaw's question and Jason's remark.  Most guys know better than to ask such a nosey question, but then, he IS a doctor.  Must be his bedside manner kicking in.  That and jackals are known to be... different.  But Jason?  Denying he's tough?  Well... he IS a fox...

"I'm an opportunist," he answers, "I make a living at taking advantage of good opportunities.  Watching out for the black cat for example.  I'm starting to seriously doubt that they're bad luck given that so far I've met a Blissian and her sexy bodyguard.  Speak of the devil..."

Lucky enters, blushing.  His new suit isn't purple or anything, it's just that it's different looking enough that it's obvious that he changed clothes.  He's carrying a mop and gets to cleaning up his puddle.  Walter raises an eyebrow.

"Well well well," Walter says, "I'm impressed.  He didn't make me clean up his mess for him, or act like it was there all along.  Pretty rare for a wealthy guy.  Well don't feel bad, buddy.  I'm sure Hacksaw's used to visitors making messes here.  On the bright side, he hasn't made a bloody mess here yet, right, Doc?"

He smirks at Hacksaw.  That's about all Walter can do to help save face for Lucky at this point.  He wouldn't have bothered even trying if Lucky had told him to mop up.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:06, Tue 23 Feb 2010.

C.H.A.D. listens carefully to his orders, and nods curtly, "Understood.  Returning to the main base vessel.".  He steps forward a single step before stopping short in front of Nono.  "This alleyway has just been opened for public access." he declares before walking around Nono, and starting to walk back to where he believes the vessel is.

Jacqueline smiles back to Emerald, "I think that sounds like an excellent trade-off, Miss Haynsworth. I'd be glad to do so." She raises her glass towards the fox, "To the future, for both of us."

She sips the wine after the toast, waiting until the glass is clear before standing up slowly, "Well, with that set, I think it may be time for us to draw this meeting to a close. I still have a new employee to introduce myself properly to, and I need to prepare for tomorrow's meetings. Thank you for your input today. It's been amazingly informative." She smiles politely, offering to take Emerald's glass for her before seeing her out.

---

Sabre gives a long sigh of relief when CHAD seems to drop the insane AWOL behavior. As CHAD starts off, he gives an apologetic nod to the citizens they pass by, though he doesn't explain who he is. He's not entirely sure that it would look all that great to have the future Diamant Casino blamed for this little happening.

Wanting to make doubly sure that CHAD stays on track, he manually directs CHAD to the best possible route back to the Diamant ship, going the way that he came.

Nash nods subconsciously at Amy's message and at Billy's explanation at the same time.

"I'd... I'd really like that, Billy... Though that song sounds really a little foreboding, if you don't mind my saying so... Does it, uhm, have a specific meaning for her? If it was for your daughter, then I'm a little confused that you sang it for me..."

As if just thinking about it, he looks down at the cloth in his hands, straightening his glasses a bit. He hands the cleaning cloth out to Billy, trying to calm his voice again "Uhm... here. You have a little something on your glasses... Sorry about that. I think I tend to spit a little when talking a lot..."

Please... please... Let this work. He thinks to himself as he offers the cleaning cloth.

With the bone set, Elena goes about setting up a rough cast for Jason, telling him to keep his leg still while she wraps it and sets up a splint. She's sure to not make the wrapping too tight, but she's also firm enough to make a proper cast that keeps the leg from moving in the desired spot.

For now, she keeps Jason company, telling him how simple it was to fix his leg and that it'll heal just fine so long as he stays off of it. Typical post-surgery talk, though more similar to how one would talk to comfort a child. She's keeping Jason laying down for now until the cast solidifies a bit more, not even paying attention to all of the chatter just outside.

Miya furrows her brow at Walter's comment about her figure, clearly not appreciating the leering, but choosing to ignore him and remain aloof. Of course, if the wolf makes any attempt to touch her, she fully intends to break his wrist.

When Lucky comes back in a new suit, preparing to mop up his embarrassment, Miya raises a brow briefly at him and at the comment that Walter openly makes about it. She shifts, starting to get lightly agitated just from the length of exposure to such an abrasive furson.

Drizzeleaf watches as CHAD not only leaves the alley, but walks right past her without so much as an acknowledgement. Upon seeing Sabre and that he doesn't seem upset with her or Nono, she figures it best not to speak up. However, she doesn't see a reason to keep Nono in the dark concerning his questions. "Chad was doing that 'cause I told him to. In an alley, he wouldn't be as public about his half-naked self as he would, say, in the store. And that guy who just left was one of those Diamonte goons..."

T'shock soon catches up to Joe. "This day has been..." she watches the large man pass by with the possum and then looks at the moogle riding a muzzled bird that earlier tried to eat the fae that's now jingling there with them. "...I don't care to describe it. But I garuntee the next person to accuse me of something bad when I wasn't doing anything wrong is going to get my fist in their face so they can have the satisfaction of complaining and I can have the satisfaction of shutting them up."

Emerald nods, "Thanks for having me over. Good luck, Miss Diamonte." she heads out as per Jaq seeing her out. Soon as she is out, she heads for the nearest hotel to book herself a room. She then gets some sleep so she'll be up extra early.

Hacksaw chuckles. "You're persistant with the lady who clearly doesn't want you to be. Seems you have as wet of an appetite for her as I do for a good steak..." he examines Miya, licking his lips. Whether it's because he's thinking about HER or STEAK or both.... is anyone's guess.

Hacksaw looks at Lucky and says, "My deepest apologies if I hold any responsibility towards this... here; let me help you clean that. And perhaps you may want to consider booking an appointment for a checkup. It's not natural for bladders to let loose like that so easily..." he very quietly cackles.

Jason doesn't mind being treated this way. He does, however, reach to give Elena a hug. "Thank you so much. I honestly don't know how I'm going to pay... I am not rich at all..."

Billy says, "Oh, I wrote a number of songs for her. That one was to reassure her that not only is death not the end, but that if life were truly fair, we would all perish. So to remind her of this, so that she never says "no fair" or anything, I wish for life to be UNfair to her... because that's a good thing. The rest of the song is a challenge, not only to her, but to all, to show me and anyone really, how to stay true, be good, and especially how to be perfect."

He takes the cleaner and takes the sunglasses off. His eyes are colored yellow. He gives Nash an almost loving, but definitely soft smile. "Perhaps I could write a song for you..."

Amy telepaths, "A Blissian!"

  In reference to a reference in a different board, does this mean Mr. Zahenshmin is a Blissian?

  Joe looked up at T'Shock (Because the confusion Joe's player constantly has regarding 'wait, how tall are Humans here?' aside, T'shock is taller either way),  "I'll be sure to mind my habit of wild and baseless accusations around you then...  Though on that note, it's probably a good thing Diamant has competent employees so we can sidetrack the reason we came out here."

  Are you accusing me of making baseless accusations? T'Shock PAUNCH!

  Joe shrugs in regards to Drizzleleaf, "Makes as much sense as everything else today."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Sun 28 Feb 2010.

Nono grins big that T'Shock is back so soon.  It tells him she must have opened the ship waaay up.  Of course, he's very wrong.

"So what'd you think?!" he asks T'Shock expectantly, "Incredible, isn't she?  I'd bet money that yours is now the best dragster in it's class.  If I were to wager even more, I'd bet that sorta thing will come in very very handy for you more than just being fun, Kupo.  Just be sure to watch the engine heat indicator and don't make a habit of sudden acceleration, and she'll be fine.  Haven't written up the mod to cost chart yet, but I assure you it shall be forthcoming, Kupo."

Ray senses Nono's excitement, and agrees enthusiastically with a smile, nod, wing flap, and a warble.

"I agree!" the collar translates.

Nono watches Chad and his buddy leaving.

"Well as Mr. Joe pointed out, looks like he's in capable hands.  Care to lead the way to your ship, Drizzeleaf?"

"So easily..." Lucky mutters to himself, allowing Hacksaw to take the mop from him.  He'd be angry with Walter if the guy wasn't right.  That IS rare for a rich guy.  And so far, the scary Jackal hasn't harmed anyone.  In fact, he's been nothing but nice.  Lucky is beginning to grasp the enormity of how different this culture is from what he's used to.  Even so, the guy gives him the creeps, and Lucky can't keep his fur from sticking out.

"Thanks," he answers, trying to keep his composure, "I'll take that under advisement.  How's Jason?  Is he doing OK?

Walter shrugs at Hacksaw pointing out Miya's cold shoulder.

"Nothing worth chasing is easy," he answers, "I guess that could be said of this free hospital idea.  The two may even be just as unlikely.  Them getting their dream, or me getting mine.  But sooo worth the effort if the dream comes true."

He gives a lazy smirk to Miya and winks.

"Just so that we're clear," Lucky chimes in, "The hospital as an organizational whole wouldn't be out to make a profit, but I wouldn't expect the staff to work for free.  Should Dr. Hacksaw decide to lend his expertise, he would be compensated at least as well as he is already...  Unless of course he were to take Elena's example and chose to volunteer his services without asking payment in return."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Thu 11 Mar 2010.

C.H.A.D. follows Sabre's directions as he instructs.  While he walks he takes a look around, the signs, storefronts, the other people that are staring at him as he walks back to the vessel.  As they walk, his stomach makes an auible empty growling noise, as he has yet to eat..... Ever.

Jacqueline sighs after seeing Emerald out, making sure she leaves the ship without disturbance before turning to one of the security opossums that's snuck up next to her and is doing his best to keep from shuffling nervously.

"Hm? What is it, Marcus?" She relaxes her brow as she looks at him closer, "You look like you have bad news."

The opossum clears his throat to calm himself, adjusting his tie, "Miss Diamant, there's been a slight problem during your meeting. We did not want to interrupt you." He sighs as she nods for him to go on, "Miss Diamant, there was a minor security breach. CHAD, the unit that you purchased earlier today, was seen leaving the ship and heading towards town without any one's direct orders."

Jacqueline places her fingers on the bridge of her muzzle as she closes her eyes and sighs, "...What's being done? Did anyone follow him?"

---

Sabre feels an overwhelming urge to sneeze at the moment, but rubs his nose, quelling that urge.

The opossum turns to CHAD as they walk back to the ship, which is already almost in sight, "Chad? Are you 'feeling' okay? You're making an odd rumbling noise." He chuckles, "Heh, if I didn't know any better, I'd think it was a stomach."