<> <> <> <> <> <<(Go!)>> (Bear with me, it's been at least a year since I had to GM anything and I'm getting my sea legs back under me.) (It's okay. I'm just coming off a nap that I took because I only got 4 hours of sleep last night as I was staying up until 4 AM studying for an exam that I'm pretty sure I bombed today. So my brain is kinda mush) ('s okay, this should be a softball for both of us. Take it as an opportunity to get into Lexi's head for the first time) (So I'm clear is the space plane still mid-landing or has it landed?) (It's in the middle of landing.) * Lexi bounces some restlessly in her seat. She's wearing a tight black T-Shirt that has in large pink letters "LC" on its front, a scandalously short leather miniskirt, midtone stockings and stilleto pink leather boots. Her hair is fanned out in a sort of punk-ish mess and she is currently twirling one of the waves in it with one of her telekinetic hands while she drums her real fingers on her armrest and looks out the window at the city. <> <> * Lexi sighs and pushes herself out of her chair. She walks towards the door and waves at Jeffery. "See ya. You can tell daddy I'll be a good girl and not get into -too- much trouble." She smiles wryly and makes her way out of the plane looking for whoever awaits her. <> <> Ms. Calhoun? Welcome to Red Boston. * Lexi nods at Mr. Charles and grins as she looks around. "Yeah. Thanks. Hey, anywhere to get a drink around here? I could really use one after that incredibly dull flight." * Mr_Charles raises an eyebrow. "Well, I was planning to take us to a restaurant downtown. I suppose we could hold the meeting in the airport bar just as easily, if you're that parched." (Hey Cham... Remind me to bug you about slang. Lexi would be using some but I'm not familiar.) (Okay. For now we'll just say she's trying to make a good impression... if you want to slip some, there's http://eck.chamelaeon.com/atcdex/index.php5?title=Category:Slang ) (Another important term is "schway", which is much like "cool". Ard can probably vocally clue you in on a few more) * Lexi shrugs. "Whatever. The restaurant's fine. I assume I can get a gin and tonic there just as well as anywhere else." Some of the best martian gin available, of course. If you'll just follow me, I'll have your bags sent to the hotel where your father's arranged for you to stay. * Mr_Charles puts on his hat and starts walking. He performs a few idiosyncratic eye maneuvers that clue you in that he has a headputer. * Lexi follows after him taking regular surveillance of her sorroundings as she walks. "So Daddy didn't exactly say much about what we're going to be doing... " <> * Mr_Charles saunters his way down the pedways of the airport with practiced familiarity. "Didn't he? I should have thought saying you were going chainjumping was enough." He pulls a cigarette out and lights it. * Lexi nods. "Well yes he did say that. But he didn't say anything about the details. Who I'm chain jumping for even..." Well, I would have figured chainjumping would have been fairly self-explanatory. Travel to godforsaken regions of the galaxy, bring back data and specimens to sell, then sell your memoirs and retire. The "who" at this point must be a little secret, I'm afraid. There's such a huge amount of risk involved with these things. * Lexi shrugs and telekinetically lifts some sunglasses out of her purse and puts them on. "Whatever... I was just making conversation... " She smirks. * Mr_Charles reaches the outside of the spaceport, where he opens the door of a waiting car for you. "You'll be working with a group of other chainjumpers, of course." * Lexi gets in and laughs. "Awww... that's less fun!" She shuts the door herself with her mind and smiles widely. * Mr_Charles gets in on the other side and nods to the driver. "If you say so. There's a lot of scary things out there in the galaxy. Have you been paying attention to the newsfeeds of other jumpers?" * Lexi raises her eyebrow and grins. "Yeah... that's what makes it fun." * Mr_Charles looks at Lexi askance. "Of course." <> <> Well! Here we are. * Mr_Charles opens the door, and heads around the car to open the door for Lexi. * Lexi snerks at the name and gets out. "Thanks... So what's good here? Besides the gin?" I find the mousaka enchiladas to be delicious, myself. * Mr_Charles heads inside. <> * Mr_Charles slips a credchip to the headwaiter and heads towards the back of the restaurant. "So you're quite the pilot, I hear." * Lexi follows and nods with a smirk. "Well yes... I spend a great deal of my time testing my limits. But that's hardly a secret." * Mr_Charles sits down in a circular booth towards the back, isolated from the other tables. Have you ever flown in the asteroid belt? (Where is the asteroid belt and how likely would that be?) (I'm rubbish at astronomy.) (... the one between Mars and Jupiter? c_c;) (Right!) (I couldn't remember if it was mars and jupiter or jupiter and saturn. Okay.) (if you're a thrillseeker it's likely.) * Lexi nods. "Sure! It's not a very good test of my ability if there's nothing out there to hit me." Well, chainjumping's a lot like that. <> * Lexi smiles gleefully at the prospect of booze. "I'll have a double gin and tonic." * Mr_Charles orders a glass of chardonnay before the waiter disappears. * Lexi then looks over the menu to see what looks appealing. Piloting inside an interstice - that's a wormhole in technical terms - is kind of like navigating through a piece of canneloni. <> (in practical terms that means "just beerslam two unrelated foods from both genres) (Gotcha) (huh... that didn't go through) * Lexi nods and chuckles. "No problem then. I could do that with two hands tied behind my back." (there) <> * Lexi orders a paidakia burrito with extra feta. It's... tricky, I've heard. Different from what you might be expecting. But, I have confidence in your skills, or I'd never have talked with your father. * Lexi nods. "Sure. So when do we start?" Hopefully soon. Do you think you could get along with some of the ... rougher types of people? * Lexi raises an eyebrow. "You don't watch much TVNet, do you?" No. I don't get much time away from work... * Mr_Charles orders the mousaka enchilada and the waiter trundles off. * Lexi waves it off and smiles smugly. "I've spent some time in Twilight City clubs. I think I can handle whatever you scrounge up." Oh, well. In that case I'm sure you'll be fine. The last thing I was worried about was your ability to defend yourself. Your father would surely have my job if not my life if you wound up injured. * Lexi rolls her eyes. "I wouldn't worry about it. I'm plenty capable in that area. I'm not a helpless little girl, you know." She smirks at that. * Mr_Charles spreads his hands. "Well, it pays to be careful, of course. I assume you're not that interested in the pay amounts?" * Lexi sighs. "Uh... let me know anyway, for the hell of it." Daddy has made it clear that his assistance in the way of my finances will be... limited. Ah... far be it from me to interfere in family squabbles. The pay, as it stands, is fairly dependent on the success of your missions. Bringing back data is the most important, but the least valuable in terms of what you can probably sell them for. Alright... So what brings in the money? Our contract with you will require certain deliverables for each mission. Any data or specimens you bring back above that are yours to sell. We will of course attempt to offer a fair price for them. Of course... Universities and institutes will probably pay top dollar for specimens. Data's less useful, but still will bring in money. Artifacts from alien species are, of course, priceless. <> * Lexi nods. "Of course... So what's the ship like?" Her eyes seem to sparkle. It's unclear whether it's the discussion of the ship or the drink arriving that causes it. * Lexi stirs the drink a bit and then takes sip. <> Well, the ship could do with a bit of love, to be honest. With beginning enterprises like this, we find it best to stick with the basics. The ship will get you there, but it's not going to win any beauty contests. * Mr_Charles sips his chardonnay. * Lexi is gleeful for a moment about the drink and then sighs. "Yeah? Aww here I was hoping we'd get something really schway to zip around in. But I guess it's better than nothing." If the enterprise proves profitable, we'll provide a better ship with bigger cargo area and quite a bit more ... zip/. * Lexi nods. "Well that's something to look forward to I suppose. How fast is it?" Her eyes get sparkly again at this question. With or without the interstitial drive? * Lexi shrugs. "Both." One hundred kilometers per hour without. Not that fast, but you hopefully won't need it. The drive, of course, will take you several lightyears almost instantaneously. Though percieved time is a little more than it actually takes to travel. Good enough... * Lexi drinks more of her gin and tonic. Well. Do you have any more questions? * Lexi shakes her head. "Nah." Good! Then let's speak of more pleasant things. Do you enjoy dancing? <> * Lexi rolls her eys. "Yes of course." <> * Lexi waves goodbye and heads into the hotel. <>