"No worries, Boss." Ash reassures Jago with a thumbs-up, "I'm on it.  Everything appears to be in order ..."  His heads-up display overlay on the reticule of his headband has been gently glowing the entire time.  Like his Captain, the thin navigator of the Profit Margin is loathe to leave the bridge unattended at any given time - especially if they are in flight (even if they are in orbit).  Of course, their physical presence isn't actually required, the ship's computer has enough bandwidth and horsepower to keep his wrist computer and communicator patched in and updating real-time with any telemetry.

Ash is probably the least excitingly dressed of his companions.  He is wearing a simple, dark blue coverall, though it is freshly pressed and the pleats look quite crisp.  The sleeve arms are rolled up and his naval utility blade is strapped to his side.  The leather belt at his waist has a set of gloves tucked into them as well (he had donned them originally in anticipation of needing to help the Ore Hound's crew with their vacc suits).

He cradles the mug of black coffee that Shui always seems to have on hand when he is around.  And then slowly starts to make his way to wherever his assigned seat at the table is.  Along the way he gives an appreciative smile to Keryn and her outfit, an approving nod to Eneris and his uniform, a tip of his mug to Saskia and her outfit (sans footwear), and then a slight bow to Corlan and his unique finery before he gets to his place at the table.  He pulls out the chair for any of his female companions that might have had the luck (either good or bad, depending on their point of view, he supposes) to have been placed within his proximity, waiting for them to sit first.

"Should you wish," Shui replies, "you might assist with the pouring of drinks." She flashes the gunner a bright smile.  "Some of that beer and mead you have squirrelled away, perhaps, for those preferring libations of that nature.  After that, please seat yourself."

Reaching out, she touches his arm.  "My thanks," the steward whispers before sweeping off to take orders.

Everyone gathers in the lounge for dinner, making it quite a bit more crowded than normal.  Not cramped at all, despite the numbers; the ship's lounge can certainly accomodate three more people.  Shui bustles about, helping people find places and pouring whatever drinks are requested.

The buzz of conversation fills the lounge.  With eleven people (hopefully soon to be twelve) in a room that was designed to be used, comfortably, by eight, things are definitely not too crowded, but there is the option to use the rear section of the lounge, should anybody feel like getting away from the noise and activity for a while.

Corian seem very interested in the economics of mining, and is soon engaged in a discussion with Jockram and Jago on that very topic...

Banster and Hegerich are standing close to the drinks, possibly for convenience, and talking among themselves.

Keryn homes in on Ash and Tylen, and starts telling them about the scenes being displayed on the walls. 

Eneris, meanwhile, latches onto Saskia.  Navy types sticking together.  Hopefully it won't end with them both drunk and starting a brawl with everybody else in the room...


OOC: The rest of you... circulate!  Butt into conversations.  Dinner should be served soon.  For now... MINGLE.  :) 

Shui passes through the room like a shadow, seen but inobtrusive.  She serves the requested drinks, whisks away glasses for refills, offers up small finger foods, and wonders when Yasmine will be making her appearance.

It's a good thing that people are mingling to some extent, but she notices that Banster and Hegerich have shifted to speak with each other.  She's not surprised - to spend long periods with a very small group in cramped confines demands a singlar sort of personality trait.

"Gentlemen," she begins, moving up to them.  "One hopes everything is to your liking...I find myself curious.  I have spent a little time on a mining ship -" different from their own "- and was wondering what your duties might be, generally speaking, aboard your own."  She smiles, a touch of irony in the expression.  "With such a small crew, of course, there will be a great deal of overlap, I'm certain." 

Eternally grateful for the pointers she received from her friend Shui, or Sushi as she always will be to her, Yas looks herself over in the mirror on last time before leaving her quarters.  On one hand she feels she has overdressed for the occasion, but on the other hand it has been far too long since last she don anything like this.  Indeed, she cannot bear the thought of counting the years, lest it makes her too self-conscious to show up in this getup.

She sighs and turns in profile.  At least she is happy for keeping up the exercises learnt in the Corps, even though she is probably a few kilos heavier most of that is actually muscles.  Age has yet to start robbing her of that.  Leaning in she ignores the ever more present crows feet and focuses on more important issues.  Even though there is no chance, thanks to the gentle molecular tape, she still checks the top to ensure no "natural disaster" has occurred the last few minutes.

All ballast secure, it would appear.  She gives the old girls a push to make certain.  Indeed.  The miracle of the WunderBra™, as if she really needed it.  Still, the Marines always like to go big before they go home, victoriously of course.  With another sigh she reaches the conclusion that it is time to face the music head-on, if that is even possible.  Then again, nothing is impossible for a Marine, and once a Marine always a Marine.  And this Marine is ready to storm the entrenched troops, odds of overdressing be damned.  Earrings?  Check.  Bracelet?  Check.  Necklace?  Check, big time.  She still loves looking at it even now.  Hairdo?  Check.  Weapons?  Oh yeah, check.  Shoes?  A lift of the hem.  Check.  Perfume?  Check.  Subtle but there.  It all checks out; she is checking in to be checked out, Oorah!

With that she steps out of her quarters and only stops briefly in the crew lounge to make sure all security markers she set up are lit up green.  So that are, including the one warning her about anyone wearing the same outfit.  As if that could happen.  It was one of a kind, and made to order.  Now is the time to show it, and some other things, off.

Even as she steps through the hatch to the passenger lounge she hears that the others have begun to mingle, so she takes the chance to strike a pose with a familiar grin in place before speaking up.

"Pardon my tardiness, you have no idea how hard it was to get my two guns in place in this outfit."

____________________
Click here to see what she looks like:  http://creativelass.net/Yas%20...with%20hair%20up.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

“Looking good Yasmin, spectacular even” Jago says, after a little pause to take in this new, and rather more intimidating aspect of his security chief.

Jago stands, and holds up his glass, “I must say that I’m impressed by the efforts that all of you have put in to ‘scrubbing up’ for this and I’d like to propose the first toast of the evening, ‘puttin' on the style’.”

This message was last edited by the player at 10:44, Sun 02 Feb 2014.

Tylen is as surprised by Yas's style as Jago appears to be - and raises his beer towards the woman as the captain proposes his toast.

"Shall we see if the guys want more beer?" he says generally to Ash and Keryn.  "Shui gave me the job of keeping them topped up, but I suspect I am not doing it to her standards." he says with a grin as he watches the doctoring stewardess engage the two miners in conversation.

"Coming?" he asks the pair as he sets off across the room.

"Do you guys want beers?" he asks as he gets closer  "Its not too bad ... "
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Sun 02 Feb 2014.

Then lanky ex-Scout has to stare at the transformed Security Chief for a long moment.  He raises his mug in a silent, if genuine, approval in her entrance.  His smile is equal parts amazement and bemusement, the ex-Marine is quite amazing.  On many levels - and this is just one more.

"Here. Here" Ash chimes in as part of the toast's chorus, "To style."  Even if he has displayed is own lack of it with his lack-luster choice of clothing.

Allowed to return his attention to Keryn by Jago's interjection, Ash compliments Keryn on her own fashionable attire and then nods amiably as he tries hard to keep up with her seemingly archival knowledge of various vistas in the background.  He doesn't recognize more than a small handful of the images - either by reputation or actual first-hand experience.  Though the fact that he has seen some of the vistas first-hand must count for something; the Profit Margin's navigator simply can't envision just what.

He nods to Tylen and motions to Keryn to walk with them towards Banster and Hegerich.  With the ebb in the conversation, Ash can't help asking the young woman, "You seem a bit distracted, Ms. Taylor."  He smiles casually, then prompts, "Is there something on your mind?  Besides your machine sapience studies?"  With a glance in direction of the Ore Hound crew as they approach, he tries to introduce her to them, "Have you met our dinner guests?  Banster and Hegerich, I believe..."  He points to each in turn, then back to the pregnant brunette, "Ms. Keryn Taylor, one of our long-term passengers..."

Glancing towards the door, Eneris stops talking to Saskia in mid sentence.  After a brief pause, he asks, "Is that Yas?  She looks different.  Is that how she dresses in the crew lounge?"

Hegerich responds to Shui's question with a snort and a grin, and Banster says, "To be honest, we're not really sure what Jockram does, because we do everything."

Hegerich then decides to clarify, "Jockram is in charge, and pilots the ship, navigates, and handles all the finances.  If we need permits to work in a system, Jockram deals with the red tape.  Banster here does most of the engineering duties, but I do a little of that too.  Mainly I'm what they'd call the science officer on a fancier ship - we fire the laser at a rock, low intensity, and the computer runs a spectrographic analysis.  It's my job to look at the results and make a guess at whether or not it's worth moving in to mine the rock."

"He calls it a guess," Banster interrupts, "but he's never wrong."

"Yeah, well, I started doing the job on my dad's ship, when I was fourteen or so."

Keryn shakes her head to Ash's query, "No, I'm fine.  I was just... wondering where Yas was, that's all.  She helped me out with my clothes, and I was hoping she had something to wear herself.  Obviously I needn't have worried."

The two miners decline the offer of beer for the moment, declaring themselves to be "Fine, thanks." and "Barely started on this one."

The introduction of Keryn brings friendly smiles all around.

Corlan and Jockram, in conversation with Jago, are distracted as Profit Margin's captain greets the security chief.  They join in the toast, and then Corlan excuses himself, walks over to Yas and says, "Miss Crow, I don't believe I've ever seen you looking more... dangerous.  The room is full of men who will die of broken hearts when you leave it.  Can I offer you a drink?"

Yasmine, of course, makes her entry with an off-colour quip.  It's her way, of course, and Shui ignores the comment for the picture she presents.  And it's a fine picture indeed.  They had gone over the dress, discussed the hair and accessories, but Shui hadn't actually seen the full picture; it solidifies her first impression, that Yasmine certainly has style.

"Well done, Ms. Crow," she murmurs under her breath, still standing over beside Banster and Hegerich.  She can't very well abandon them after asking a question, nor can she call out across the room - it just wouldn't be proper, and like Yasmine, Shui has her own ways - but there must be some acknowledgement, especially given the attention the woman is getting.

Raising her cup - teacup, of course - Shui salutes the Security Chief with a smile.

Well done, indeed.

"Impressive," she replies to Banster with a small laugh.  "I have no doubt."  She listens more seriously as Hegerich describes their duties, Banster backing him up - no competition among this pair, only full support, and that's a joy to see. "It seems Captain Jockram is a lucky man to have the crew he does," she comments, nothing but sincerity in her tone.

"Since fourteen," she muses.  "Quite a long time, Mr. Hegerich."

Ash arrives, Keryn in tow.  "Mr. Tescali, Ms. Taylor," Shui greets them with a small bow.  She reaches out and touches Keryn's synthsilk sleeve. "This is lovely." 

A chance to dress up shouldn't be ignored.  Shui has, herself, deliberately kept things more subdued; she's the steward and service, here, not the center of attention.  It's pleasing to her that the others have taken the time to enjoy their clothing.

...well, not the men, but that's par for the course, she considers with wry amusement.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Tue 04 Feb 2014.

“Thanks for your help back there,” Jago says to the other Captain as he tops up his glass, “I’m looking forward to getting clear of this place, what with one thing or another it’ leaving a bad taste in my mouth.”

Taking a sip of his own drink, Jago leans back in his chair and smiles, “so, how’s things been with you guys? Is there good mining around here?”

Yas cannot help but grin at the toast, feeling it was worth the effort to dress up, even if she no doubt is overdressed.  But you only live once and the odds of her getting to show off this dress ever again are, she estimates, slim at best.  She nods to them all, an unusually relaxed smile settling on her face.

"You're looking good too, boss," she tells Jago.

"Sas, never change, please."

"Ty, honouring the scout service, I see.  My sister would approve."

"Ash, really suits you, that."

"Sushi, thanks for the assist.  Looking stylish there."

"Ker, you're stunning.  That looks so good on you!  Go easy on the guys now, young lady."  She sort of feels like Keryn's mother, responsible for her well-being, and not just because she get her out of trouble back at Frenzie.  Although she prefers to view it as her older sister, to avoid feeling too old.

"En, I bet you've earned more medals than they given you.  Looking sharp."

"Corlan, how kind of you to say so, I think...  Yes, a drink would be great, thank you."

With the crew dealt with she moves on to greet their visitors.  Looking them over she makes a semi-curtsey.

"Good to see you face to face, guys.  That was some nice shooting back there, took me back to my days in the Corps with the Navy floating above us.  We had this gunner who could fry the enemy within spitting distance, and did so at times.  Got a few stories, there...  Any way, reminded me of him, actually.  At least in skill.  I'd be honoured to have you guys cover my back any day."  She offers a hand to them in turn as a more traditional greeting, at least in her case.

Once Corlan brings her a drink she will toast to them.  This kind of event is something that was so long overdue that she did not even realise it, allowing her to unwind as much as it is possible while being in charge of ship security.  But right now, she is going to do her best to just relax and enjoy things.

Ash nods to Yasmine - the human whirlwind, responding to her compliment with a smile, "Thank you, Ms. Crow.  You look absolutely stunning.  Truly amazing."  This is definitely a side of Yasmine that Ash has never seen before; he holds up his mug to salute her.

As she drifts away to speak with the others, the lanky navigator returns his attention to Keryn.  "The Chief can take care of herself. Obviously." he notes off-hand with a chuckle, repeating Keryn's own assessment for emphasis.

Ash shifts his position slightly to include Banster and Hegerich, "I want to thank you gentlemen for backing us up with all of business on the surface.  It could have been much rougher without the extra set of sensors."  A pause, and then he adds with a wry smile, "And the extra laser..."  He takes a long draught from his coffee mug.

"How was the view of the ... uh ... final 'drop' on the dome from orbit?" Ash asked of the two prospectors.

Tylen smiles and grins along with the conversations whilst taking the occasionally swig of his beer.  It isn't that he feels uncomfortable with the situation, after all he knows everyone here and is comfortable with them all.  He just isn't much of one for small talk.  Even growing up, he was always one of those youths that were found in the kitchen at parties - and it doesn't appear to have changed all that much in the intervening years.

For good measure he completes the circuit offering to fill glasses for people, giving particular emphasis to the beers and mead that he and Ash collected from the surface.  However, he is happy to refill glasses with any of the other drinks that are available.

Eventually he finds himself next to Shui.  "Anything else I can do to help?"

"No, she usually only dresses like that when she's trying to lull some farbotz greebol into thinking she's harmless.  They think she's unarmed, but she isn't.  Even with no weapon within a hundred metres of her she's always armed somehow." Saskia assures Eneris quietly.  "Only person I ever met who has a gun stored in the shower, just in case somebody tries to start trouble in there."  She raises her drink to Yas in a silent toast and smiles at her crewmate.  The Security Chief appears to have come dressed to provide a good distraction.  An excellent one even.

"Can we eat soon, or am I going to have to gnaw somebody's arm off?"

"A gun in the shower?" Eneris seems unsure whether or not to believe Saskia.  In the end he simply decides to skip over the remark and changes the subject.  "You know, I've notice that you, Yas and Jago make a good team.  How long have you all been working together?  I mean the others work well too, but they obviously haven't been here as long."

"Twenty seven years this year." Hegerich confirms to Shui, "It's pretty common for asteroid miners to start work at fourteen,  Sometimes younger.  Their families live on the ships and move about a lot, and the kids go with them.  So you pick up the job from living in the workplace, and just sort of drift into it."

Banster nods, confirming all of this, then adds, "Not me though.  I grew up dirtside, went to school until I was eighteen, then tried to enlist in the Navy, but they were between recruitment drives and I didn't get in, so I spent about eight years hopping from one merchie to another, and eventually decided to sign on with the Hound for a change of pace."

Jockram slaps Jago on the shoulder, "No problem Jago, any time.  You gave us a fair cut of that salvage, so it was only fair that I helped you out.  And in times like these... well, people like us should cover each other's backsides.  Navy's probably too busy with other stuff, and we're outside Imperial territory now anyway."

"Where are you bound for next?  I'm heading for Tremous Dex to resupply, then on to 871-438.  Heard a rumour of a lanthanum strike over there.  With a war starting the Navy will need it for Jump drives."

Keryn, meanwhile, blushes at the compliments, and tries to focus on what Banster and Hegerich are saying in an effort to conceal her embarrassment.

The two Ore Hound crewmen wave Yas and Ash's thanks aside.  "It was nothing."  "Least we could do."

Then, "The view from our position was... "

"Spectacular.  Though nowhere near as spectacular as the view in this room." Banster raises his beer to Yas, Shui and Keryn, and to Saskia as well.

Hegerich adds, "We're looking for a new skipper, you know.  One who's easier on the eyes than Jockram.  Would any of you ladies be interested?  Hard work, poor food, and two men who would worship the deck you walk on."

Corlan stays close to Yas' side, and joins the conversation with the two prospectors, "They aren't just pretty faces, gentlemen, but very adept at their jobs too."  He nods at Keryn, "It's only fair to warn you that I'd beware of this one though, she's a notorious gambler and would leave you as poor as she's left Eneris and myself in about a week."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Sun 09 Feb 2014.

"Fourteen.  Certainly beginning early." Impressed, Shui gives Hegerich a little bow.  Her own training started somewhat earlier, but it was of a different sort; that he began at such an early age is impressive, the moreso as he likely wasn't pressed into it. "And you've 'been about', as they say, Mr. Banster.  I, myself, have done quite a bit of ship-to-ship moving, though I am well-pleased with my current situation."

She offers both men a bright smile, with another small bow, this time to Banster.  "Hence, while your offer holds merits, gentlemen, I fear I would personally have to decline.  Of course, I might bring it up as ammunition in discussing a raise in pay."  She cocks her head slighlty.  "I do appreciate the sentiments; coming from someone who has no doubt seen wonders when mining, they mean a great deal."

It's hardly surprising the men make comments like that, cooped up alone in their ship for extended periods.  Certainly Shui isn't offended; they seem polite, good people, especially given their situation.

She sniffs at Corlan's warning. "Mr. DeSant is merely bemoaning his losses; men often accuse women of being 'sharks' when they turn out as superior in matters of the manly art of poker."  And other things.

She glances sidelong at Tylen as he moves into reach.  "Perhaps, Mr. Orgesh, you might chat with our guests here while I check the food and ensure it won't be overcooked.  You've done a great deal to assist, and I wouldn't want you to miss out on enjoying yourself." Giving him a quick pat on the shoulder, she heads off to do just that.

It's her job, after all, and Shui takes it very seriously.  Tylen has been a huge help thus far, but she hopes he relaxes and enjoys the party now that things are in full swing.

Noticing Keryn's discomfort with the compliments, Ash tries to change the subject for her.  "Where did you learn to play cards, Keryn?" he asks idly, adding quickly, "And don't just say 'on Frenzie.'"

The thin navigator has to crack a smile at the banter between Hegerich and Banster.  He can only admonish them for trying to steal away crewmates.  "Gentleman," he warns with a half-playful, half-serious tone, "stop trying to cut into the Profit Margin's margin..."

He takes a sip of coffee to mask his chuckling over Corlan's statements and Shui's rejoinder.  "Well," Ash says simply as a rejoinder to the rejoinder, "men have to be good at something, right?"

"But it was on Frenzie.  I'm sure I'd remember if it had been anywhere else." Keryn's reply is accompanied by a smile, now that the conversation has move onto less embarrassing topics.

"Well, I suppose you want me to be a bit more precise.  There was a sort of casino, and a neighbour's son worked there.  He taught me.  Said I was pretty good at it, but I thought he was just being nice, you know?"

Hegerich, barely able to keep a straight face, replies, "Probably best to avoid you then.  Banster and I have no experience whatsoever of gambling.  My entire knowledge of cards is probably that an ace of fours is the best hand, especially when they're all full houses."

"Oh yes, definitely." his partner adds, confirming that they have rarely, if ever, played cards.

“Well, good luck with that. We’re heading for Phlume initially, then generally on in that direction. We might stop off at Regina, both me and Corlan have family there, but it depends on the fighting really. There’s a Navy base at Extolay and I hope to pick up the latest when we get there.”

As he talks to his opposite number Jago absently picks up a table knife and roles it between his fingers.

“Do you have family dirt side anywhere?” he asks, “I must say it’s a bit of a worry and dammed difficult to keep in touch.”

Yas drifts a bit as people talk between themselves and ends up near Ash where she lifts her glass in return to his recently compliment upon her entry.

"Merely stating what is obvious.  You're evidently one of those fellows that anything work on, so to speak.  And thank you, I rarely get a chance to dress up this way, can't in fact pinpoint the last time.  Got to let my hair down every now and then, even if I currently wearing it up."

She chuckles and sips some of her drink, trying to think of something else to say.  Unless she has something important to talk about or something to crack a bad joke over she is not that much for small talk, so now that the things she had to say are said she struggles a bit to come up with something.  At least the drink is a good excuse, perhaps that is why they have drinks at parties.  As long as the silence doesn't get awkward, or she cracks a joke to sheds the colours of her dress she should be fine.

It is so much easier to just shoot things.

Tylen is torn.  He would much rather follow Shui away from the big group of people that is forming.  Sure he knows them all, and is happy to have a beer or three with any of them, but he really isn’t at his best in larger groups.  His early career had left him on a small base, and then it was the X-boats - before he took the exploration job.  Nothing that had really equipped him for  parties.  However, she clearly wants to get on with her job and he isn’t one to impose himself like that either.

With a smile he moves to the edge of the group, allowing the conversation to go on around him as he smiles and fiddles with his beer bottle.

Jockram starts to speak, "No, I...  Oh, tanj!"  he draws a deep breath, "Yes.  Yes, my brother, and his wife and kids, are on Sting.  Moved there about five years ago.  As you can probably guess, this mess has me worried about them."

"They're probably safe - I'd be more worried if any of us were Imperials, but our family comes from Elixabeth, which is outside the Imperium.  But the fighting makes it hard for me to check if they're all right."

Shui makes her way into the rear portion of the passenger lounge to check on the food. 

Tylen drifts to the aft end of the main lounge, edging out of the main conversations, but does find himself close to Saskia and Eneris, who seem to be having a discussion about length of service aboard Profit Margin.

Yas moves around to where she can talk to Ash without having to yell like a Gunnery Sergeant on a parade ground, leaving Keryn and Corlan to chat to the two Ore Hound crewmen about their feigned ignorance of gambling...

Realising that he’s about to place the knife handle in his mouth as a substitute cigar, Jago ‘huruphs’ and places it deliberately back in it’s proper place on the table.

“I’ve heard of Sting but never been there, a high tech place somewhere  trailing here isn’t it?”

"I've been here, let's see, just over four years, and Yas has a couple of weeks on me, at least on the Margin, she knew Jago even before that I think, or maybe somebody who was already on the crew recommended her."

Saskia laughs, "Even back then she acted like she ran the place.  Not the ship, no, the whole frelling downport.  I came over for an interview with Jago, and Yas was sitting on the ramp.  Questioned me for frelling ages, then acted like I was lucky she was letting me speak to the Captain, even if I did have an appointment.  And she wasn't even the First Officer then."

A sip of her beer and then, "So, yeah, we've known each other for four years and some."

"Four frelling years." the Engineer shakes her head in wonder.