<> <> <> <> < has been dubbed 'Fort Laramie' by someone who's read far too many history books.>> (...) (Wow, talk about working the crowds.) (AH! HISTORY BOOKS! IT'S THAT GUY THAT WAS DOING BAD HISTORY EDITING! AAAAAH!) (Snake! You've created a time paradox!) (Colonel! What do I do? Metal Gear has taken control of this time period.) < and their own notes.>> (AH! What's to say they don't have headputer cameras?! :O) (*shiftyeyes* I'm on to you. D:<) (*hits the EMP button*) <> (I'd imagine there's got to be regulation on invisible eye-based cybercameras if privacy law in THE FUTURE has anything even remotely to do with privacy law of THE NOW.) <> * Zeke is best mingler ever. You can tell because he's in a giant metal suit that keeps him from having to directly breathe the same air as everyone else. * Zeke's birdsect is looking around warily. It must remember last time they were here. * Hestia is actually here! Which is a surprise since you left her on Mars last you knew. She's leaning against a wall and sipping white wine from a glass and looking out over the crowd idly. Nearby, there's a pair of GalReg 'bodyguards' who are trying not to make eye contact with her. <> <> * Kyle mingles gladly! Mingling is awesome. Alcohol is awesome too. They're a great combination, and really he's just gonna enjoy himself because whooo, party. * Tomas has had his regular blue jumpsuit laundered just for this occassion and is gladly gladhanding those approaching him. (It's not actually Tia. I blew my silver points on a doll.) (That explains it!) (o/~ Jurassic o/~ Rhythm) <> * Tomas raises and eyebrow and looks around, "Wha-" * Amadeus is there, chatting animatedly with Stephen Starblaster - the dude who runs this bar - about various biological finds they've come across. * Zeke says to one such hopeful, "Perhaps you will have better luck on a planet that is not made completely of swamp." His birdsect stares the person down as Zeke grabs a drink to hold in one hand. (We found a bounty of swamp deposits on our last planet!) (I can't shuffle! My hand is full of moats and victory points, AGAIN.) <> "TOMAS HOLLIDAY! You thought you could escape me in the stars, but you were wrongly mistaken!" <> "... you're kidding me. They fed off _sound_?" (At least Steven won't be lonely anymore.) (oh god. I need to find my sheet.) (You do.) <> "Hey, glad you made it out." * Amadeus nods at Steven. "Through the S+, yes. That planet was *rich* in the stuff, but I'm hoping the corps don't try to mine it right away... hard to say what that would do to the ecosystem." (Okay I am back from assembly hell.) * Tomas turns slowly, "oh, hello, Dexter. What are you doing all the way out here? Have they built a Red Sizzler franchise?" "With silicon-based life there, you're right, it'd be like mining carbon right from the plantlife." * Lexi is drinking quite a lot, because that is what she does. She's got a drink floating next to her and is grooving somewhere where there are a bunch of pretty people. <> "I have BEATEN you! You may have made it out here first, but *I* have built the first RESTAURANT!" * Zeke idly tromps towards the bar, not really 'dodging' any conversants. * Hestia looks at Mika over the rim of her wineglass for a moment, but it's a neutral expression, at least, even a little bemused. "Made it out of what?" There's a pause, and then she ohs into her glass, sipping. "Right. Yes. Me too. Harrowing." <> "Hey, brah! You're, like, on the Fate Breaker!" ("Positively terrible. Hors d'oeuvre?") * Tomas raises his eyebrows in surprise, "So you own the franchise?" * Amadeus keeps talking to Steven, not noticing Thomas' predicament at all: "Right. But I can't help worrying about the corps - they're after the bottom line, at the end of the day." <> "I don't have much info for you on the Black Orchid or Cosmic Supernova. Things have been pretty quiet, except for that rescue." * Lexi nods to the guy speaking to her. "I am! Yep! Although, that isn't normally what people know me for! Good to know my sources of recognition are expanding." * Hestia glances behind Mika for a moment, then shrugs. "Oh, that's alright. I've learned a few things on my own... whatever you turned up was mostly gravy. How's the chainjumping game treating you?" (All I can think of is Empowered. 'Didn't I see you half-naked on the internet?') (OCELOTINA IS DISPLEASED.) * Tomas snrks, "Anyway, I kid. This place needs a good restaurant. The last time I had something to eat here it--let's just say it didn't go too well." (*swish* Camera cuts to a lone tree with a bite mark in it. A tumbleweed blows by. *swish*) "Aw contraree, I have opened THIS!" <> (THERE ISN'T EVEN A MS TO HAVE COMIC SANS MS.) <> "Our third crewmember's been... jumpy lately. It's got us kind of spooked." (AND YET IT LIVES ON) (I immediately turn and shoot him.) (COMIC SANS CEC) * Hestia raises an eyebrow. "Your third... crewmember." Mentally she adds: oh right, the probable Jawa we know nothing about. (Durpedurp) * Tomas follows Dexter's swivelling arm, "err, that's an interesting name you've chosen there." <> "It takes money for Mole Drives and ships. Corporations drove exploration of the Americas - and before you say it, I know how that went. But who else would have gone?" (VIKINGS WENT, YOU BEER-SLINGING DOUCHEBAG.) (Corporate vikings.) <> "I know, brah, but I was bein' polite! Name's Darnell!" (Man must remember two other members of Mika's crew. If only we had a wiki.) <> <> "And now, to complete your humilation, we must have a cookout." <> "Cook off." (Yeah, I found the log.) * Amadeus adjusts his glasses. "That's pure speculation, and the fact that most things are driven through a desire for profit still doesn't make the practices right." * Hestia says, totally nonchalantly, "The one who stays in the ship and none of us have ever seen and who helped you track us through that interstice that one time? THAT third crewmember?" * Zeke walks by Hestia on his way barward, and pauses a moment, looking at her and Mika for a long moment. <> "It's all armchair economics until we can set up some isolated tests, you know? Hey, speaking of. I got word from someone that they're trying to get enough funds to terraform an extrasolar moon into a giant evolutionary experiment." <> * Tomas laughs, "So you fancy a rematch? If you intend to abide by the old customs, I need time to prepare myself." * Hestia turns to Zeke, following Mika's gaze. She processes that Zeke is holding a wineglass, and actually smirks. (Zeke + beverage = Dark Helmet drinking coffee. That is all.) (HAAAAHAAHA) (I will now forever think that Zeke can slam up his faceplate and it's Rick Moranis under there.) (:|) ("I can't even breathe in this thing!") (You know he's making faces at me under there :x ) ("What do we got on this thing, a Cuisinart?!" "...Zeke, what the hell got into you?") * Zeke looks back and says, "You two seem to be conversing well. It has been an interesting week." * Amadeus blinks at Steven. "What, seriously? Where are they going to get that?" <> "If you demand it, then I cannot but provide it! Name your date!" * Hestia looks at Zeke for a moment, then at Mika, then back at Zeke. "Yes. The local weather systems have been stable and popular sports teams have, I believe, played against one another." <> Neither of those things seem relevant. <> "There's plenty of empty moons out there. We can't mine on all of them, you know?" * Zeke looks to Mika. "You have... been successful?" * Kyle ends up finding his way around Lexi's group and smiles. "So who'd you find, Lex?" * Hestia turns back to Mika. Mr. Box can be so persuasive. It's the way he doesn't use rhetorical language or contractions. * Lexi shrugs. "Dunno." <> "Yeah, I suppose so. Pretty lucrative, anyhow." * Amadeus waves his hand. "No, I meant, money for the grand experiment. Can you get me a coffee?" <> (I do so use contractions.) (I just don't always use contractions.) * Moogle has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) (Your reaction to that statement proves you don't use rhetorical language, though.) (Like your face!) (That statement just proves *jumpkick*) * Tomas puts on his serious face, "Very well, Dexter Traeupenstein. We will battle tomorrow at noon. That will be enough time to perform the cleansing rituals." He then bows solemnly, "Allez Cuisine" and turns and walks off. (.......what is this I don't even.) "Sure." <> "They're trying to gather it from various colleges and institutions." Ya dunno? Maybe they should tell you then. (Traeupenstein.) Wow. If you can get their proposal, I'd love to look at it. <> "I told you brah, I'm Darnell. You're Kyle, right? Like, also on the Fate Breaker?" * Lexi shakes her head. "No." She points at the group. "Dunno." * Zeke smiles slightly at Mika. "It seems it'd be harder to have a better week, then, for all of us." So, you're doing well in spite of your mysterious third crewmember having the heebiejeebies and making everyone on your crew nervous. Oh, Dunno, I gotcha. * Hestia sips wine innocently. "Where's Leo, by the way?" (Kyle> WHat's their names? Who's names? Yes! Dunno!) * Kyle offers his hand. "Yup, also the Fate Breaker." (XD) (Who's at helm, What's the captian, Dunno's funding it all.) <> "He's trying to keep him under control back at the ship." <> "Oh NO." ( I already told you their names! Whose names!? DUNNO!) <> "Charmed, brah, I'm sure! You guys rocked out a kickin' rescue last week!" (Their third crew member is either Nibbler or Stitch.) (Okay anyway... Those 3 hours of sleep are clearly catching up to me. Wow... Okay back to the game) * Lexi shrugs. "Yeah, well we do what we can. Did you know those Orchid guys very well?" * Zeke only stumbles forward a step, the birdsect looking down at it immediately and making a digital noise. "Your bird is being annoying again." <> "If I can find it in the morass of my inbox I'll forward it to you. Cream or sugar?" Please tell me it's a talking raven. That would actually make my day. <> "Leo was supposed to keep him calm! Oh god, I hope Leo's okay! Oh space jesus..." <> Both, thanks. (I actually took a moment to look up how Amadeus likes his coffee.) * Zeke gets to see it! Also his third arm snaps down to grab the bird around the neck. (It came up before!) <> "There you go. Careful, it's strong. I usually have it on hand to keep pilots awake." You... would think these two birds would get along, since they like expressing themselves with violence. * Hestia looks into the distance for a moment, then seems to snap process everything at once. She turns to Zeke. "Your bird's not REAL." Then she turns to Mika. "It's the BIRD?" * Amadeus takes the coffee and has a cautious sip, and his eyes go wide before he looks at it. "You weren't kidding." At the bird stuff from Tia, he glances back. (It was more of a hiss than a yell! But Amadeus has magical sensing powers.) <> "It's Lenin," <> (LENIN!) <> "Nah, brah, they kept to their own, y'know? Kinda hifalutin', didn't think us corporate types were worth much." * Hestia raises her glass to Mika. "You're clearly some sort of android, or a really brave reality TVNet contestant. Either way, hats off." She downs the rest of her wine. * Amadeus is certainly looking at the bird. (Survivor: Omicron Persei 8.) * Tomas stops midstep and turns to look at the bird with everyone else. <> "Leo found him somewhere! He wouldn't leave us alone. He stowed away on our cargo ship, and then we found out he could astrogate, and it all seemed to make sense to take him with, but..." * Zeke turns to face it, along with the birdsect, and says, "I'm unsure which of us is makes the stranger chainjumper." ...don't ever tell Professor Chung that if you value that bird's life. (Cheung. Sorry.) (Amadeus Chung is his pidgin English-speaking cousin that owns a laundromat. IT'S CALGON.) They don't think anybody's worth much. * Lexi nods. "It's all chill. You weren't missing much. They're captain was a sexually deprived arrogant assbag, but hey... we all have our faults." His just make him a total douche. "For real, brosephs, he's got a big stick. Like, right now they're holed up in one of the restaurants." * Amadeus approaches Tia and Mika now, coffee in hand, because he totally heard it. "That bird can astrogate?!" <> "You can kill it?!" ...I don't know which of those statements is worse. (Also... their*... Jesus I'm not with it.) (Was Mika addressing Amadeus or Tia?) (It's okay, dude, it's filler.) (Amadeus, because she knows who Dr. Cheung is.) (But what about Dr. Chung?) (HE GET YOUR LAUNDRY SO WHITE AND CLEAN WITH ANCIENT RED CHINESE SECRET) (XD) (*swoosh* Zeke, staring right at the camera, in Model Robot's voice from Perfect Hair Forever: "It is Calgon." *swoosh*) (Now I'm just seeing Zeke in a shower, in-suit, because it's what humans do in the morning.) It seems possible. * Amadeus blinks at Mika, confused. "I'm... not in the business of euthanizing animals?" (Robotic monotone: "Look at your computer. Now look at me. Now back to your computer. Now back to me.") (Yessssssssssssss.) * Hestia glances at the Prof, then presses her fingers into her temple. "You are too smart to not get that joke, Amadeus." (Dr. Chung is now my alternate universe self. :/) Hey, she didn't seem like she was joking! Quite. (In the universe where Ronnie stayed Chii.) <> "I kind of wasn't." <> (Amadeus is an offensive stereotype! Lexi is a stock trader! Zeke is a toaster!) (Goddamn it Todd. Now I just have "You're a doctor?" "I A DOCTOR OF RAUNDRY!" in my head.) (HA ha ha.) (Zeke will perfectly brown whaetever you insert into the slot.) ("I HAVE PHCLEAN, HA HA HA.") (It's funny because it's racist.) * Amadeus smiles slightly. "Sorry to disappoint. But Tia might be able to." He looks at Lenin now, too, and carefully. "So... how does it astrogate?" I don't kill real birds for no reason. <> "Like you do. It pokes at the input screen with its claws. Took it a while to learn, he used to have to draw on the deck with chalk." <> * Hestia scratches the side of her head, looking into the middle distance. "I don't think he meant how does it LITERALLY astrogate, Mika..." ("Yes I did." "What?") (What, weirder things have somehow happened!) * Amadeus shakes his head. "Smart bird. I take it he's a troublemaker too?" "He gets antsy sometimes. Like dogs and cats before an earthquake, you know?" <> * Amadeus eyes Lenin back. "I think I get the idea." ("This bird actually helped saved the universe." "...what?") (Different bird, actually. Same name, but grandson. Possibly more generations than that, I'd have to check.) (I cannot imagine the laughing jackass has a long lifespan.) (I want to say it's 15-20 years.) (12 in the wild. So not far off.) (Aheh. Anyhow!) <> "Only one thing to do now." I can't wait to hear what it is. (I should probably go soon.) (SHOTGUN!) (Pull!) <> "He likes vodka." ...well, his name is Lenin. I'd almost say that's really unhealthy, but... what the hell. The bird can astrogate. * Hestia dusts her hands off on her leggings, then looks around. "Well, this has been entertaining but I have some mingling to do... I'll see you two back at the ship." She gives the bird a tilt of the head. "NIce to meet you... Lenin." <> "He's worse on a hangover, but it's impossible to get him under control otherwise. I'd better go check on Leo. I'm sorry for ... you know." <> (Was wrapping up anyhow.) ( WHY AM I HERE? You're all crazy! I'm gonna go lie in the sun and DJ on the radio now.) (Anything else?) * Amadeus nods and sips his coffee, now taking stock of the rest of the party. (I'm good!) <>