DC watched the interaction between the crew.  Being the new guy, he was still at a loss on how to deal with the crew sometimes.  Rather than aggravate anyone today, Kale included, DC just took an empty spot at the table and kept his mouth shut.  He still had some thinking to do with regards of where to take Wei-Li.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Mon 25 May 2009.

---> From cargo bay

"Sounds good to me, Captain." Rhaef said, standing the doorway, the last to enter, a cigarette lit and hanging from his lips.

"Wei, the food smells great," he said with a nod. He nodded to the others, his eyes scanning the room. He was still trying to get a read on the new pilot, and his impact on the ship dynamic.

He finally looked to Geoff, "Geoff, I'm still a little bit short on ordinance, a problem I plan on rectifying on Santo, but in the mean time, can I get your sawed off shot gun and rifle for this trip?" He paused, "The Twins'll 'xpect that the gun would be armed to the teeth, and as such less likely to check you, the first mate as throughly, might be our best chance to get a few extra pieces into the room, if they're needed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:36, Mon 25 May 2009.

Geoff smiled slightly when Rhaef requested a shotgun and rifle.  He had to shake his head at the former first mate's request.  It was obvious Rhaef was going to need some time to get used to his new position.  A little more experience and he'd be fine, Geoff was sure.  But now was not the time to be making mistakes.  Not with the Sin Twins.

"Now, I gotta ask, Rhaef...how in the hell do you plan on concealin' a rifle?  A sawed-off I could see...maybe, with a long enough coat...but a rifle?  I'll lend ya the shotgun and a couple 'a pistols, but we'd be better off savin' the rifle for a real rainy day."

Turning to Wei, Geoff smiled and said, "Now waddaya say we all eat?"

The crew of Destiny settled around the large wooden dining hall table then as Wei-Li placed the plates full of food into the center.  Although it wasn't any five star restaurant from the core she'd managed to whip up quite an acceptable meal considering all she had to work with was protein and seasonings.

The conversation ebbed and flowed as the crew reminisced with Connor about his time on board and asked all sorts of questions about where he was planning on heading next.  Finally, the plates were cleared and those whose turn it was to clean up (Kyoko and Charlie) began doing so while the rest of the crew walked Connor out to the Cargo Bay to see him off and prepare for their meeting with the twins (Kale, Geoff, and Rhaef).

<From Destiny: Bridge>

Kale stepped into the dining hall just in time to see Charlie rushing past, a big grin on her face as she slipped into the bathroom.  It was a good call for Rhaef to take her out on the town.  Kale was always a little worried about shipboard romances and lately it seemed like the birds and the bees were doing a number on his crew.  But seeing Charlie happy like that was well worth it.  Her and Rhaef had had a rough time of it so far, it was nice to see things settling down for once.

Kale grabbed a protein bar from one of the cabinets and sat down at the table, assuming Rhaef wouldn't be far behind Charlie and he could probably head him off here before he made it to his bunk to get ready to go.

<From Destiny: Cargo Bay>

Rhaef pulled up short as he headed towards his quarters and saw Kale sitting there.  He took a quick breath and headed in, knowing a talk was in order.

"Capt'n," he said with a nod as he passed through almost afraid of what Kale was going to say.

Part of him wondered how long he was going to be walking on egg shells and missing the days when Destiny felt like home.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:06, Wed 30 Apr 2014.

Kale noticed Rhaef's abrupt stop when he walked into the room and shook his head, "Now ya come in here all guilty-like like that an' I start wonderin' if ya did somethin' wrong.  Ship attacked by space monkeys?  I hear they're problem out here." he said with a wink.

He continued on then to the business at hand, "I had Connor run his search.  It appears at least that our girls are on level.  Nothin' fishy that could find.  So treat yer recon like yer tryin' ta prove him wrong.  I just can't believe the twins were bein' straightforward with us. They've got to have somethin' up their sleeve."

Rhaef tensed when Kale mentioned him slinking in like he was guilty, and then relaxed into the jibing and bowed his head-- it seemed that the person who wasn't letting him live down what had happened was him...

But dammit, he shouldn't let himself live it down... and Kale shouldn't either... he'd almost... No.  He stopped himself.  He was starting over-- and this time he was going to do it right.

He tilted his head.  "He send you any files?"

Kale could tell that Rhaef was still in a sulking mood - something he'd seen a lot of since their time on Beaumonde.  It wasn't everyday a mans past came back to bite him ... or in Rhaef's case, swallow him whole.  But everyone had a past, Kale sure has hell had his fair share of demons.  Not a day went by without him at least once thinking about those soldiers down in Serenity Valley, Nate included, and how he just sat there and watched as the war ended that day in Independent defeat.

But although he and Rhaef were friends and had had each others backs for years now, they simply didn't talk about those kind of things with each other, so Kale let the man sulk and kept to business.

"No files.  He combed through 'em himself.  He woulda let us know if there was any red flags."

Rhaef nodded.  "I'm not doubting him," he assured Kale.  "It's just... sometimes you see something that sets off your own flags..."

He shrugged.  "Guess if I want visual triggers-- I'll get them shortly."

He nodded towards Kale.  "Guess I better go make myself presentable..."

He paused long enough for Kale to let him know if there was anything else.

Kale nodded at Rhaef's assessment.  One thing could always be said and that was that Kale trusted Rhaef's judgement.  The other man had yet to steer him wrong.

"That's why yer still headin' out to get a look fer yerself." Kale confirmed.

Rhaef began leaving the room then and Kale added with a smile, "But don' take yer outin' too seriously - I'm okay with ya showin' our girl a good time.  After all we've been through it's nice ta see her smilin' like that."

Rhaef smiled, a combination of relief and something that could only be described as tenderness at the mention of Charlie.

"That it is," Rhaef agreed.  And, if only for a moment everything seemed to click into place.

Destiny was his home and Charlie was... his girl, and he would do everything possible to protect them and see Charlie not only smile-- but laugh.

His eyes twinkled as he picked up his pace.  "Seein' as how it's Captain's orders 'n all."

--> To Rhaef's quarters

Kale spent the next twenty minutes or so attempting to enjoy his meal of protein and going over the details he knew about their upcoming job.  Occasionally he'd see Wei-Li come prancing out of Kyoko's shuttle, exiting the dining hall, and going through the cargo bay to her room and then back again, always carrying some new fancy thing.  She'd smile at Kale and then disappear into the shuttle.  Whatever those girls were up to they were at least enjoying themselves.  He could hear laughter wafting through the shuttle bay every so often and it brought a smile to his lips.

Rhaef wandered into the dining hall clearing lost in thought.  He may have faced down some of the most deadly people in the world, and faced some of the most trying situations a man can face both in the Hand and at Kale's side, and yet he never broke a sweat.

But now, he was sweating bullets at the thought of finally having Charlie this close. It was her that got him through the trials on Beaumonde, and he'd played this moment over and over in every way in his head and he never screwed it up.  But now, that she was here, and she was real - it was very, very real and he was terrified he'd screw it up.

Taking a deep breath, he did the only thing he knew, he lit a cigarette and sat down at the table to see if anything was out of place, you know besides him in a shirt and tie, clean pants and polished boots.

It was only then that he managed to notice Kale sitting directly across from him.

"Gorram hell, where'd you come from Cap'n? He said with a sheepish grin, "guess I was a little too lost in thought for my own good, there"

He paused and looked at Kale. The man had been through the ringer before he met Rhaef and their together had been worse. Yet Kale flew into the teeth of hell and killed the most dangerous man Rhaef had ever known because he cared about him. A cast-off mutt who'd betrayed the only family he'd ever known.

It was strange but Rhaef found him speaking words that he'd thought for months now but could never get out, and now, of all times, they rolled off his tounge, like he was confessin' to a shepherd.

"Kale, I ain't never been one for sentiment or lots of spechifyin' but I got somethin' I got to say and should've said sooner" He paused, a stray tear running down his cheek. "I sorry I ran. I sorry I weren't there for you 'n Charlie, Geoff and Wei, or Red 'n Ren" he stopped choked up a bit. Rhaef knew if he'd been there on Torrance their family would not be two members short today. "I messed up, messed up gorram bad, and you still came back from me. I ain't known anyone who cared enough 'bout anyone to do that for someone, 'specially not me." He looked Kale in the eyes, and in all seriousness said, "whatever you do, wherever you go, no matter the mission, I'll be at your side, from here til the day you cut me loose, or the undertaker hauls me away." He voice was cracking but serious, "I owe you more than that, but it's all I got to give."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Wed 07 May 2014.

When Rhaef entered the dining hall Kale watched him.  He'd never been as a good of a study of other people - not like Rhaef was. Able to take one look at a man and read into what he was thinking.  But he knew Rhaef and he could tell that he was nervous.  A suspicion that was only confirmed as he sat down, lit a cigarette and then startled at Kale's presence.  Rhaef was not a man easily startled.

Kale crooked the corner of his mouth up in a wry grin, "Been here since ya left ta get ready.  Ain't much that can get ya lost in thought, but if'n you were gonna pick one thing that does, an exceptional woman is a good choice."

Rhaef paused then and Kale saw something building up behind his eyes.  Suddenly he was speaking.  But not the way Rhaef normally did, in brisk tones with a hint of sarcasm behind every word.  His voice was almost husky, choked with feeling.  Kale listened, still and quiet, as the words poured out.

There was silence between them for a few long moments while Kale let it all sink in. He and Rhaef didn't often speak their feelings. He looked down at his hands, gruff and calloused from years sailing the black - sailing with the man beside him.  They'd been through a lot together - and a lot of apart after Rhaef had left.  Kale thought of Ren and Acacia, he'd buried the pain of losing them but never actually dealt with it so thinking of it now stung like it was still fresh.  If Rhaef had been there on Torrance Station ... well there was no use in thinking like that.

Kale looked up, "Rhaef ... what's past is past.  If I stored up everyone's mistake's an' held on ta them this ship would sink under the weight.  I'm not sayin' I figured out how ta let 'em go ..."" He shook his head, thinking of his many mistakes now as well, "I'll tell ya if I ever do." he chuckled a little and then met Rhaef's eye, " ... but we find people that'll help carry 'em, sometimes those people even help us figure out ways ta make the weight of the world light 'nough ta carry in our pocket.  'An you fight ta keep those people, cause those people keep you whole, keep you goin'.  You don' owe me nothin', but there was never a doubt in my mind that you'd stay at my side anyway."

Kale clasped his hands in front of him, "Sometimes we lose our way - an' that's just the way 'o things.  Sooner or later though we always find our way back.  That's fate - that's destiny."

Rhaef sighed, Kale's words were what he need to hear and he smiled as the captain talked of destiny. "You know Kale, one thing I ain't ever been able to figure out, is if'n you know your playin' on your ship's name, or if just plumb don't realize how much you talk 'bout destiny." As a genuine smile spread across his face.

"And speakin' of that exceptional woman, I know you got them rules about ship-side couplin's, I know you made an exception for Ren 'n Red, and I'm hopin' if things keep workin' out for me and Charlie, you'd do the same for us as well."

Kale laughed, falling easily into the comfort of having cleared the air between the two of them.  It was one of those moments when the past felt just a little lighter, "There's a reason I called her that."

"An' ain't no question 'bout it.  I wouldn't even dream 'o tryin' ta come 'tween you two."

"Thanks, Kale...just figured lettin' you know was better than tryin' to hide." Rhaef answered with a sigh of relief.

Rhaef took in his friend and he did look worn and tired. "You know something Cap'n? We're on one of the best pleasure planets that I've seen in the 'Verse, and you don't just look like you need a day off, you smell and sound like you need one to."

He shrugged, "If you ain't willin' to take the Twins up on their offer, which most single men would call you crazy for, just so you know," he paused, "in all seriousness, Kale, give yourself a couple hours to blow off steam today. If this job is going to work we need to be able to roll with the tides, and you seem more wound up than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs."

<From Destiny: Kyoko's Shuttle>

The woman that stepped out of the shuttle bay and into the dining hall looked a lot like Charlie.  Same stature, same shy smile, same big brown eyes ... and yet no one on the ship, or anywhere in the else in the 'verse for that matter, had ever seen her like this.  Her long dark hair curled romantically around her face and down her back, her skin was smooth and clean, and her exquisitely done make-up made each of her features stand out.  Yet she was still Charlie, standing there, playing awkwardly with the hem of the crimson dress that hugged her curves and then flowed gently away from her waist.

Charlie hadn't even managed to look up yet, her gaze focused on her fingers and the fabric she was weaving between them.  Ah'm gonna rip a hole in'er dress if ah'don'stop. Charlie thought and the idea of ruining Wei-Li's lovely dress was scarier then facing the men in the room so she looked up.

They were both just staring at her and although Charlie had just come from looking at her reflection in the mirror she didn't know what they saw.

"Hiya ..." she said, the men didn't respond, "... so guess we'go now?"

Kale had just opened his mouth to respond to Rhaef about his whole proposition when Charlie stepped into the room.  The words died on his lips.  The girl was a vision ... except that wasn't right because she wasn't a girl, she was a woman.  A beautiful, strong woman who'd been to hell and back with them more times then he could count.

"Wo de tian ah*" Kale breathed.  He knew he wasn't near old enough to be Charlie's dad but he imagined this is how father's everywhere felt the day they realized their little girl was all grown up.

*dear god in heaven

At least Kale managed a few words, Rhaef was stunned into silence when he turned to hear Charlie's voice, and saw the vision of beauty that she was.  Even in his fevered dreams during Curio's torture, he could not have imagined her more beautiful. And here she was, in the flesh, wanting to be with him. Don't screw this up, he thought to himself.

He stood up and smiled at Charlie, "You look beautiful, Charlie." He reached out to take her hand, afraid to say anything more in this moment, for fear of embarrassing himself.  "By your leave, Cap'n?

Kale smiled as he watched Rhaef and Charlie take hands, both their faces slightly flushed.  Neither of them were kids anymore but it reminded him of young love ... and how long it'd been since he'd felt anything like that.

"By all means, don' ya be holdin' up on my account." he placed a hand on Charlie's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, "You make sure he doesn't get ya into any trouble, lil' Charlie." then he looked up at Rhaef and added, "Have fun, but don' forget ta keep an eye out."

With that he stepped back and gave them leave with a small gesture of his hand towards the door.

Charlie felt her cheeks grow hot as Rhaef's gaze fell on her.  Nobody had ever looked at her the way Rhaef did ... even before she was all dolled up.  He made her feel like she was the only girl in the whole 'verse.  Just her and him.  Her heart beat just a little faster as her told her she looked beautiful.

"So do'you," she stammered, "Ah'mean, not beautiful like'all girly, but ya'know, handsome." she paused, her tone becoming less fumbling and more sincere, "Very, very handsome."

The captain spoke up then, coming to rest a hand on her shoulder.  She tilted her head up to look back at him with a smile, "Ah, ya'know me.  No'sorts'a trouble'r gonna happen on'my watch."

She took Rhaef's hand then and let him lead her off the ship.

<To Santo: Casino Way>

Rhaef with Charlie in tow, and walking on air, Rhaef left headed for the cargo bay. With a final check of his guns, this was still a business trip, he walked off the ship into the sights and sounds of the city's main drag.

<from Kyoko's Shuttle - on her way to her own quarters>

Wei-Li carefully timed her passing so that she would not interrupt Charlie's debut.  She smiled to herself as she watched the two leave then passed through the kitchen, heading towards her room.

She smiled at Kale and gave him a respectful nod.  It felt good to have some laughter on board.  She hadn't realized it until that moment that she'd missed it.