In reply to Jacques Keveloh (msg # 65):

Monica answers Doc's question, "Oh, you know, this and that.  I tell you I wouldn't want to be in the Grafdom of Miranos on Perseus right now, heh heh.  The Graf and Prince Erich of Svetlana hate each other to death.  Now that the Crown Prince is dead, might want to have a care taking trade to Miranos for a while."  She shrugs, "...but, nothing ventured nothing gained, heh heh."

Dinner is actually better than expected.  The menu isn't fancy, but the food is well-prepared and the portions are good.  Monica keeps up her end of the conversation with good-natured quips and innuendo throughout the meal.

At the end of dinner Monica thanks you effusely for the invitation and makes arrangements to meet with Hayden tomorrow morning.

OOC: If anyone wants to pump Monica for more info or do anything else at the BBC, no worries.  Otherwise, let me know where you want to go..."

OCC: Doc will head to the Flat Tail with Jack (assuming he is keeping that intention)...

Hayden was in the mood to blow off a little steam, especially after the passengers they had on the trip.  He polished off a third bourbon at the BBC before heading (not quite stumbling at this point) over with the others to the Flat Tail.

After Monica left and the crew was gearing up for the trip to the Flat Tail, Jack murmured to the group, "So, Dayani. I'm guessing she's a go-between for a messenger from Petra Zamora. Maybe Simon. Threw me for a moment, didn't expect such a cavalier approach in Halowon space. I could be wrong but I think we're about to get an update on Consul."

He let that hang as they exited BBC. "The Tail's close, why don't we walk?"

Thera kept her eye on Dani. She wasn't about to leave her alone in a bar, but she was happy to move on if everyone was going to the Flat Tail.

"I knew it," announces Doc smugly. (obviously having known no such thing)

"Yeah, an after dinner walk is prescribed," he added, following Jack contentedly.

The Gypsy Moth's pilot chatted as necessary and then waved idly to Monica as the elderly woman left.

Danica stood with the others when they made ready to leave and make their way to the Flat Tail.  Her meal was only half-eaten, though she was clearly done.  And her wine glass was still half-full, though - once again - she was clearly done with it.

She straightened the pleats on one of her sleeves and the raised an eyebrow at Jack's assertion about Dayani's actual employment.  She shrugged and noted rather nonchalantly, if rather quietly, "She's not that discreet.  But given how blatant the intelligence gathering is here."  Danica left the rest unstated - it was all suppositions and circumstantial anyways.  Her tone wasn't disparaging or trite, she actually wasn't really sure what to make of it all.

Inhaling deeply for a moment, Dani nodded to the Doc, "Yes, a constitutional would do us all some good, I suspect..."  A walk would definitely do all of them some good.

In reply to Danica Moreau (msg # 72):

The night air feels good on your faces, though it is still a bit wamrer and heavier than you'd consider optimal, even with a brisk breeze.  A short walk leads you to the Flat Tail.

The cool, controlled climate inside the bar is a nice contrast from outside and the comfortable ambient lighting and low murmer of conversation is inviting and relaxed.  The bar is laid out with a stools/standing type bar to your left and high-walled booths for 6-10 people on your right and further back.  The furnishings and decor aren't expensive, but the overall atmosphere is pleasant.

The clientele appear to be a small few spacers and spacer hangers-on, as well as more numerous dirtside blue-collar types.  The place is not particularly crowded.

Dayani is lazily leaning on the bar near the entrance when you walk in.



She spots you, languidly straightens up, and begins strolling towards the back of the bar.  With a slight smile and nod of her head she indicates you should follow.

she leads you back to one of the booths towards the back of the bar.  The lone occupant of the booth is the same young man who was photographing you earlier.

He is maybe mid-twenties, lean, and slightly taller than usual.  Medium-length (by male standards) dark brown hair and a face and hands that are clearly no strangers to work.  His clothes are mid-lower class casual, with no evidence of weapons.  A half-empty bottle of beer is on the table, of a common local brand.  Both his hands are folded and resting on the table as well.  He looks pleased to see you, but is clearly nervous as well and trying not to show it.

Dayani invites you to sit with a simple hand gesture and grins lopsidedly.  She quips flippantly, "Table for seven?"

Doc casually scanned the bar as he followed the young woman's lead, remarking at the table with his own lopsided grin, "Looks like its all setup.  And our admirer from earlier - hope you got my good side..."

Thera checked out the room as she entered, and when Dayani led them to the photographer's booth, she hung back with the intention of getting an outside seat, facing the door. She didn't like being hemmed in, just in case she needed to move fast.

Jack chuckled ruefully as he saw the young photographer. He was obviously expecting someone else. He kept his eyes on the guy, standing at the table's edge. "Hello again, Dayani. Who's your friend?"

Danica entered with the others and when she recognized the young female astrogator and her companion at the table, sidle up close to young man.  Her face was a masque, though there was a slightly feral smile on her face - one that showed, perhaps, a bit too much tooth.  Of course, the mirrorshades masked the eyes, which was probably key to the look.

She remained silent as Jack engaged the two in conversation, merely placing her manicured hands on the table with their fingers interlaced.  Dani merely needed to remain close to the young man; she did her best work up close.  Danica was pretty sure that the others were all quite well aware of her 'interview' style.  The raven-haired pilot of the Gypsy Moth was generally better a playing the Bad Cop™.  But only when necessary.

"Well this is interesting," Hayden said as he sat down at the table and ordered a soda water.  He figured whatever this was about, he'd better stop drinking for it.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Thu 10 Oct 2013.

In reply to Hayden Marks (msg # 78):



Once everyone is seated (except Jacques), the man coughs, "Uhh, my name is Mario Gazdik.  Please sit down.  Sorry for stalking you guys earlier and for meeting you here like this.", he begins sheepishly.

At this point Dayani interjects, "Yeah, good thing these boots were made for walking.  I've been to half the dives on this side of town looking you lot because he", she jerks her thumb at Mario, "is so damn paranoid."

Mario flushes red.  To Dayani he quietly splutters, "Keep it down."

Dayani arches her eyebrows and compresses her lips, but instead of saying anything she picks an invisible piece of lint off her leather slacks and pointedly looks the other way.

Mario squeezes one fist in the other hand.  Cagily, he dangles, "I may be looking for a ship for something."  He shrugs with a forced casualness, clearly watching to gauge your reaction, "maybe low key, no need to bother the corporate slugs."
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:23, Thu 17 Oct 2013.

Dani's eyebrow arched at the young man's last statement; it peaked out over the upper edge of her mirrorshades as the edges of her mouth quirked upwards for a brief moment.  Obviously, the boy was referring to those 'other corporate slugs'.  Which, of course, begged the question that raven-haired pilot felt compelled to then ask, "So, why us specifically then?  It must not have been our stellar reputations..."  It might pay to know exactly what Mario knew about them.

She let her last statement linger for a moment.  Then Danica prompted Mario to give more, stating easily and simply, "Obviously, we have a ship.  And the Gypsy Moth can carry plenty of 'somethings'."  The mirrorshades dart towards to the others, for a moment, then back to Mario and Dayani as she leaned forward to engage the two more directly, "But generally, we need to know more about those 'somethings'."  Her tone made it obvious that she was unlikely to let just anything on board the Gypsy Moth.  Her weight shifted slightly, allowing her to create a little noise with out having to say anything further for the moment.  If having an undisclosed and uninspected cargo hadn't worked for Blackfin's security man, Lafleur, it certainly wasn't going to work for someone even less known to them like this young man.

And, while she'd let Hayden deal with the contract particulars (if it came to that) given his much more vast experience in that realm, Dani was still going to ask certain questions, or at least expect to have certain answers ...

Jack slid into the booth, opposite Thera, nodding in agreement with Danica. "Indeed. And personally I would like to know why you felt it was necessary to photograph us so you could send lovely Dayani after us... rather than approach us yourself."

Doc just sat, watched and listened, ordering another duplicate of the local stuff he had sampled at the BBC.  He nodded in agreement with Dani's and Jack's questions.  Piping in to add, "Well, she is lovely...", before returning to his drink.

In reply to Danica Moreau (msg # 80):



"I was due for a break."  He lowers his voice to just above a whisper, "You're freeks* or most of you are, so you got no love for the Imps, right?"

He glances at Dayani, then back to you all.  She looks momentarily troubled by Mario's reference to Imperials, but quickly recovers.  In a more normal voice Mario continues, "Plus, if you're like most spacer crews I know, you got nothing against a few creds on the side."

"Just food, CO2 scrubbers, fusion heaters, and such.  Has to be quiet, though."

Doc's comment earns a suppressed smile from Dayani.

* Freek = slang derived from Free Republic of Espiaux Citizens.  May or may not be derogatory, depending on context.  Also slang for FRE currency.

Doc cocks an eyebrow, "No medicines?"

Leaning back with his drink, giving others room to address this shady sounding deal...

Thera frowned. "There's something you're not telling us, Mr Gazdik, and we don't like having our chain pulled. Why do we need to keep this quiet? All of those items are perfectly legal - so what isn't?"

Dani seemed nonplussed by the requirement for 'discretion' in the matter.  "Total tonnage and destination, please." she prompted curtly, even if her tone was a bit nonchalant.  There was no necessity to take the offer seriously.  Yet.  Nothing much had been ventured by the boy - as Thera had noted, nothing illegal.  Yet.  And besides, Mario wanted discreet; so, Danica gave him discreet.

She did suspect, however, that once the destination was sussed out that Thera's other question might be answered.

The raven-haired pilot of the Gypsy Moth merely crossed her legs in a casual manner as she leaned back in her chair briefly.  For all intents and purposes up to this point, it was just a casual conversation.  And Danica knew that if necessary, they could likely price Mario out of contention - charge more than it was worth and the deal would fall through.  Which she was pretty sure that Hayden was working on already - exactly what the right price for the job would be.  So, Dani didn't even bother to try that calculation herself.

In reply to Danica Moreau (msg # 86):



Mario seems relieved by Dani's inquiry, "Forty tons, plus a relief crew.  Me and three others.  Nothin' rock not more than a jump from here, won't take you more than a week off schedule."  Bitterly, he grumbles, "Not everyone wants to give over more'n a third.  Buried too many close to us for that."  He eyes Thera and takes a swig of his beer.

"..not more than a jump from here.."  Hayden said, repeating the words.

"So it's a one parsec trip then I take it?" the seasoned Merchant asked, wondering exactly how much information Mario had already gathered about the Gypsy Moth and her capabilities.

After the answer, Hayden followed up.

"And will this trip be into our out of Halowon Imperial space?"

With a shrug Jim replied, "We may be 'freeks' young man, but we're merchants after all..."

Jim looked to Hayden as he took another drink - him being the only 'real' merchant in the group, after all.

"Merchants take risks, but you seem to be implying people have died for this 'forty tons'. Sounds an awful bad risk for 'less'n a third'?  We're new here, perhaps you could elaborate on what those risks could be for us - and answer the lady's questions more direct like," Jim indicated Thera with his glass.

As the crew picked apart Mario's offer, Jack watched Dayani for her reactions.