"I've only noticed the one, really.  Tall, blonde, and not very nice at all.  Who cares about him, though...feels fit to not give me a care, the way I see it, I can think just the same about him.  Besides, pretty boys this far out from port, there's gotta be trouble there."  She sticks her tongue out at the thought.  "I know we have more on board, but I haven't gotten a chance to meet any of them yet."

"I find it amusing that you find the gun man 'misunderstood' and yet the gentleman is 'trouble'. We really need to work on your perceptions my dear. In truth, I am suprised he is on board though, he seems more like the type to take more.. legitimate venues of passage."

"Well, Geoff belongs on a boat out here, way I see it.  He's just like the rest of us, trying to make a living.  Whether that means we'll all be getting along is something else, but he definitely belongs on a ship.  The new blonde boy that we have...I don't feel the same."  Charlie shook her head, taking another sip of the tea.  "He just...seems like he don't feel that he fits out here.  Probably accustomed to something with pillows and top shelf liqours, you know?  Means he's gotta be running from something.  When someone's looking out for their own neck, you know....no one else's is sacred."

"I thuoght I was supposed to be the worldly and cynical one." Kyoko teases as she finishes her tea. "You decided if you'd be willing to try some of my outfits yet Charlene? I have a few older ones that are quite confortable, for when you're at your ease in your quarters." Kyoko says going back to the old reoccuring converstation between them. She knew the girl could clean up well, it was just nigh impossible to get her to try.

"Oh, you know...those are your pretties, and I'm just gonna get them all covered in grease and other tar.  Clothes that aren't fit to do your work in are kinda pointless, you know?  'Sides, who've I got to impress out here?  You know...especially being up 'gainst the likes of you and Acacia..."  The last part is mumbled into her tea, taking another sip, not looking up at Kyoko.  She never said it to seem mean, or even to raise a fuss...just that she was an easy person to open up to.  "I'm sure you'll want them some day...or maybe you'll have a client who doesn't seem all that nice, and you won't want your best stuff ruined..."

"And I said they were old..casual clothes. This time your logic doesn't meet the offer, and you will find.. that if you'd just let me work  with you a little, you could easily shine as well. I hear too often from you that you don't measure up." Kyoko frowns slightly "and trust me, you are quite wrong on that. I think you seriously underestimate yourself."

"Well, here you got our two new boys riled up on their first day, didn'cha?  I'm probably just gonna be another sister to all of them.  Not that I mind for some, don't get me wrong...but for some, maybe I wish, but that don't mean nothin."  She smiled softly, something different from her usual bright one...like she was thinking about someone.

"I'll let'cha if you really want, you know...but I can't put on makeup, I'm already covered in grime, it'd just be a mess.  Do my hair up, it'll just end up tied back so it stays out of my way.  I suppose a little something wouldn't hurt, though..."

"Charlene.." Kyoko leans forward and lifts her chin up to look at her with caring eyes. "You are a strong able woman, and I just want to show you that you can be pretty as well. When you wish me to.. I can show you how to do the makeup and hair. And if the men of this ship look at you and fail to see the beauty that lays there below the surface that I see.. their loss not mine."

Charlie smiles big, pulling away, unable to hold back the smile that crosses her face.  "Don't be....ah..."  It's easy to tell that she's flattered by the prospect, as a slight pink comes out of her cheeks, even stronger by the dark smudges around them.  "Thank you.  I mean, I'm not meaning to sound like I'm saying I'm ugly or anything...don't be thinking me for the nasty stepsister.  It's just, I'm choice three and not one, you know?"  Charlie shook her head again, looking back towards the controls of the ship.

"So are you getting off at Valon, or did Kale tell you we're not going to be there long enough?"

"No word on our tenure there.. I thought perhaps to take the shuttle out for a quick flight.. Want to come along and see if we can find a nice spot for lunch?" Kyoko asks as she gets up and opens a chest, pulling out the new clothes she had picked out for Charlene, the 'old clothes' she just happened to have. Sitting them down in front of the girl she smiled and looked at her with a resolute look on her face. "I will take great insult if you decline. So, you've no options but to accept.. and when you're ready, let me know and we'll discuss how to make you look your best. Kyoko leans over and kisses her on her forehead. "You find.. in my business, that heart matters a lot, and you've a grand one. Do not doubt yourself so much." Kyoko sighed internally, wishing she hadn't made the decision not to take ships company as clients. Charlene would blossom well with a little help and not all companion's services required sensual arts.

"Depends on how long we're at port.  I'm gonna take the chance to go down under the belly, take a look at some of the landing gear.  Kale mentioned something about it wasn't feeling quite right when we took from Persephone, and I'd rather find this problem on the surface than when we're out in the middle of nowhere."  Charlie finishes the tea, looking back just in time to see Kyoko taking out the clothes, smiling again.  She touches the material, looking back up with a smirk in the corner of her eyes.

"You....well, I know I can't turn them down, I guess."  She ran a finger along a seam, letting out a bit of a sigh.  "I'm just...I know I'm a dreamer about these things.  Like I said, when we're making berth for more than a day, and if the Captain don't have a million things that he wants me doing to make her run better...not that she can run better, of course, as I've got Destiny in the shape of her life.  You know what I'm saying, though."  She smiled again, finaly looking down, managing the appropriate words for the situation.  "Thank you, Kyoko.  I know you don't necessarily like it here, or think that maybe you're losing business, but I do love having you around..."

"I came out here of my own choice, I had the option to stay at any house in the inner core. In fact chose the Destiny for a reason.. before the Captain owned here.. Kyoko smiles as she looks around the shuttle. "Let's just say.. it's got family ties to me.

"You know, I'm just sure that sometimes you like being a mystery...I'm sure it's a story for later."  Charlie finally gets up, setting the empty tea cup down onto the tray, looking back at the companion.  "I'm going to go start the pre-landing check, make sure we're prepared to touch down.  I don't know how far we are, and I'd rather have too much time to do it than too little."  She took a step back, but then stopped, making sure to pick up the clothes that Kyoko gave to her.

"I'll, uh...when we make berth, i'll try these on.  Way I see it, everyone can be asleep then, and they can't see...well, something that outta place.  Don't want to startle.  Then again, walking in anything with a skirt on a second story...that's just not appropriate, you know."  She managed another smile, bowing her head slightly as she took a few steps back.  "You know where I'm always at, though.  Come find me if you need me."  She does a last nod, stepping out the door and making her way back to the engine room...


-------->Cargo Bay

Sometime after Charlene's departure.

Kyoko smiles as the small heating coil worked it magic and set it aside so the rich meat stew could settle while she set about making some tea. She'd most assuredly have to get another coil so she can cook and make tea at the same time. It was a quiet touch that made the shuttle her home that much more, that and she felt the need to avoid the captain for a bit. He would undoutably foil her inner calm.

She reached into a nearby case and pulled out the very last of her special items, a nice fresh green apple. She sighed as she sniffed it and set it by the bowl. Hopefully she'd be able to pick up one of her supply cache's soon, the idea of protein all the time was simply unbearable.

OOC: Feel free for anyone to smell the real food cooking :D

Kale doesn't knock as walks through the door into the warmly lit, heavily scented, silk covered room.  "Yes, I'll have the beef stew and a side salad - oh an' a glass a wine." he says, standing just inside the doorway, "Now see, that just ain't right, you eat like a gorram queen while the poor little peasants starve." he sits down on the velvet coushined chair.

"You didn't knock." Kyoko says calmly as she sets her bowl and tea aside. She gets up and pours a cup of tea and sets it by the Captain. "I still have some the stew left, it's freeze dried, but I am afraid I only have the one apple left, and if you want it, you'll have to fight me for it."

Kyoko returns to her seat and looks at Kale. "I seem to recall this very annoying man, the same one that said my aide in navigation, maintence and medical functions on board, didn't merit him giving me a stipend for my work, yet I'm still expected to somehow entertain clients without time ashore or forewarning of where we are going. The same annoying man who complains when I do appear in front of passengers in the galley and the same one who promised I would have my privacy in this shuttle." Kyoko says as she returns to her meal, the lacquered chop sticks working delicately as she keeps her eyes on the captain.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Thu 05 Jan 2006.

Kale grins, "If I would have known we was havin' a tea party, I woulda brought my hat." he then watches her return to her seat as he picks up the dainty cup, making a show of how out of place it looks in his large, calloused hands.

"What a low down dirty hun dun!" Kale says in mock outrage, "I assure you, Kyoko if I ever meet this man you recall I will defend the injustices done against you." he then takes a sip of the tea, smacks his lips together, pleasantly surprised his looks at the cup in slight astonishment.

"I also suspect if I did take clients from the passengers you'd charge me a finder's fee." Kyoko says calmly. "Aside from critcizing my prefence to have a private meal, why else have you come by captain?"

"Ah, no see, now yer just bein' overly friendly." Kale says, and leans over trying to lift the lid of one of Kyoko's trunks that sat beside his chair.  He knew the companion had wine hidden about this shuttle an' it was just funny the last time he found it.  Of course, this time the trunk was locked.  He folds his arms across his chest and looks back at Kyoko, preparing himself for battle. "We reach Valon soon, and as I'm sure there are a ton of fine gentlemen on that big hunkin' rock of a planet we ain't staying more then a few hours ... don' want anyone leaving the ship." he winces and holds his hands up in mock fear of how Kyoko might respond.

"I'll consider it." Kyoko says firmly as he moves to search her room. "If you really want something to drink captain, perhaps you should rethink your rule on alcohol onboard." she says as she sighs.

"Are we going to have a protracted stay AFTER you latest endover?"

"Ya know, if I knew where we was headed I would gladly answer that." Kale says rubbing the back of his neck and ignoring her comment about the alcohol.  He sits up in his chair and faces her, "I truly ain't trying to hinder your business, Kyoko, just lookin' out for me an' mine.  Don' know if it'll be safe ... don' want any complications or impromptu rescue missions," he chuckles, "Not that you can't take care of yerself."

"Then you'd best speak to your new gunman." Kyoko says calmly. "Before I break his wrists." she sighs as she returns to eating. The captain was definitely starting to wear on her inner calm.

"I keep hearing we have to get that kid a habit ... well one besides drinkin' and getting grabby with the women." he then stands up, "It has been a pleasure as always." he says and executes a clumsy replica of a bow and heads out of the companions shuttle.

------------Dining Hall------------------>
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Thu 05 Jan 2006.

Kyoko gets up and shuts the hatch to the shuttle behind the captain, the picture of perfect poise and restraint. After making sure she was alone and the thick door was more than sure to stop what she was going to do, she sat down on her bed and growled in frustration.

"Liu kou shui de biao zi he hou zi de ben er zi, no wonder he liked that thug so much.. they are a pair!" Kyoko says with quiet fury, releived that she hadn't stooped to cursing in the presense of that .. man. She reached behind her 'headboard' curtain, and drew out a long bundle, pausing to pull out a smooth round stone before pulling the katanna out of it's scabbard and settling back on the bed.

Soon the soothing sound of her blade being sharpened filled the shuttle's main compartment.

Kyoko stepped back in her shuttle, the idea of going out with Geoff was about as appealing as racking out the ship's waste sewage lines. So, she was stuck onbaord for the visit, again.

Sitting down on her terminal she started pulling up the shuttle schematics, time to tend to something more important. Like her privacy.