| Short Sharp Shocks; tag: Hunter | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 9 2010, 06:58 PM (350 Views) | |
| Coralyn Cardew | May 9 2010, 06:58 PM Post #1 |
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Specialist
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“A large whiskey. Larger. Thank you.” Coralyn had just gotten the shock of her life, and this seemed to be the only conceivable solution. If she went back to her room she’d probably terrify Jean by having one of her miniature neurotic breakdowns, and frankly no-one deserved that. It was just that the situation was so irritatingly AVOIDABLE. She was a bloody good at orienteering! She drew maps on NAPKINS for Chrissakes. But that hadn’t stopped her taking a wrong turn and ending up on a passengers floor. Being too nervous to ask for directions and too distracted to note the way she’d come, Cora had gotten more and more lost, aware that she was passing more and more people. Well dressed, well-spoken people. Jovial people, leaving their rooms for dinner. A blush of self-consciousness had climbed up her neck, her skimpy clothes feeling too tight, her shoes too clumpy. And just as she’d been thinking how much she missed that old and underrated ability to fade right into the background, she’d seen three of the Fergusons heading straight her way. Yup. Family friends. Good Londinum stock barrelling right in her direction It should’ve been an easily controllable situation. She couldn’t have met them more than four of five times in her life, and the last of those had been at least two years ago. They were shipping magnates, not Alliance, and besides, it was only Mrs. Ferguson and her daughters. But before she knew it Cora’s heart has hammering in her throat, her feet tangling beneath her. She grabbed the wall for support, someone was asking if she was alright amongst the titters that surrounded her sudden clumsiness. Apparently most circus performers managed to stay on their feet, even if they did look like hookers. But before she could stutter out an answer in her best American drawl, the youngest, Nancy Ferguson looked right at her. Looked, and then pointed. It was all Coralyn could do not to faint there and there, but instead she found the strength to about turn and make her way backwards. Smacking into all manner of people, she’d choked out apology after apology as she tried to elbow her way back down the corridor, her brain begging for the elevator to materialise. Sometimes it appeared that blind panic worked just as well as pause for thought, because there she was. She’d somehow navigated herself right back down to the staff bar. And now, on this half broken barstool, breathing like a caged animal Cora was letting the burning liquid work its foul, toxic magic, oblivious to everything and everyone else around her. It wasn't right. "This is..." She told herself in a low voice. "This is all wrong. Quite wrong." |
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| Hunter Williams | May 9 2010, 07:25 PM Post #2 |
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Aerial Ace
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Where in the hell was Gwen? That woman may well have been a ghost and just evaporated off the ship! No matter how he tried Hunter hadn't been able to pinpoint her for a private update on any security threats. In all honesty he hadn't been able to lay down a nice grid search for her, not without calling suspicion to himself, so it was perfectly fair she hadn't been found in the few spots he had looked. It was just frustrating. The man hesitated outside the staff bar, remembering what had happened the last time and definitely not wanting a repeat performance. Rora had been... all over him. And he'd been not so controlled himself so it was best just to avoid anyone that he had any chance of being friendly with. Dark eyes fell immediately to the petite stature of one Doctor Cardew perched atop a rickety stool, apparently nursing a rather impressive glass of whiskey all by her lonesome. No chance of any friendliness there! Plowing straight ahead, refusing to look about for fear of seeing Rora tucked away in some corner Hunter sat on the empty stool beside her. Luckily she had wanted space or something and chosen the end of the bar with seats available. Flagging down the tender with a wave of his hand he ordered in that accent he was so damn sick of using. Really, what grown man couldn't say his W's?! "Vodka yes? And not zis core crap they keep try-ink to geev me. I pay more, but I want the good stuff!" And off went the bar tender, eager for a decently paying customer all the way down here. Alone and drinking with a 'friend' like anyone should do in a bar they were in conspicuous, even when the man decided to speak quietly under his breath, the accent dropped. "You seen Gwen? And there any updates on the files between you and Fi?" Words were down to business and too the point but his expression was of someone just shooting the breeze and totally relaxed. God damn he wanted off this boat. |
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| Coralyn Cardew | May 11 2010, 07:52 AM Post #3 |
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Specialist
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It seemed like pure protocol now, whenever things weren’t going particularly well in the young doctor’s life, Mr. Williams seemed to show up and make things a little worse, in that practiced Neanderthal manner that she’d come to dislike so intensely. She didn’t even need lift her head to see who it was, that godawful accent spoke for itself. Well, here we go. Let’s make this quick. “No, I haven’t.” She said shortly. She didn’t have to lower her voice much, her pitch was naturally quiet, low and a little solemn. “And I’ve heard nothing from Fi yet today, though Lord knows she’s working as hard as she can.” Without much tact or subtlety to be certain, but when Fi was after a result, she seemed to work like a demon to achieve it. That alone was admirable. Cora knocked back the shot and stifled a cough, the sudden sting making her eyes water. She tapped on the bar and make the ‘again’ gesture that she’d somehow picked up on her travels. There now, didn’t she look like a seasoned bar-dweller? It really was fascinating, the way liquor suddenly disappeared and then materialised once more... time worked differently in these places. Perhaps that was why they were frequented by so many. “But I suggest you wait here, it seems to have become base central of sorts.” She paused, and tilted her head to look at Hunter for the first time. Already he looked a mite blurrier, which was of course excellent. “Although not necessarily in that seat.” In the back of her mind though, the sheer improbability of the idea of Nancy Ferguson sitting beside her and asking exactly WHAT she was doing here was wearing thin. She didn't want to be caught out alone again. |
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| Hunter Williams | May 11 2010, 06:16 PM Post #4 |
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Aerial Ace
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Another one...? Hunter eyed the drink going down and her motion calling up for a drink right after. Now that he thought about it... when on earth had he seen this woman drink? Never was the answer,not that he focused too much or overly cared about what the hell she did with herself; unless it had the chances of getting them all killed. How well could she hold her liquor? Hunter lifted his own glass to his lips, knocking back the vodka and only cringing inwardly. This was not his drink of choice, nor did he give a rats ass about where the stuff came from. Hunter liked a good dark amber ale if he was just relaxing and Rum if he was forgetting. But Aleksei on the other hand would choose Vodka and he was a man that clung to the image of being important and a man of fine taste even if he worked in a freaking circus throwing things at people. Selling it was all in the little details. "As much as we'd both love that to happen, can't really just walk in here talk to you for half a second and then walk away." A few guys in the corner were scoping out the newest girl, whistles and murmured cat calls barely flaoting about the other noise. Hunter vaguely recognized them, the clowns that had been practicing in the same ring as he and Rora earlier, although it was hard to be absolutely sure without the makeup. "Plus. You think I'm an asshole just go on over and hear what they have to say dahlink." Hunter forced a genuine looking smile to all but his eyes. Maybe little miss core over here would take those guys up on their calls and free Hunter of the need to keep his butt planted there. "But I'm probably just bein'... what would you call it? Oh yeah! Presumptuous. I'm sure they're really all wonderful gentlemen just wishing you'd come over and get into some deep intellectual debate with them.." Tone? Perfectly pleasant. Words? Not so much. |
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| Gwen MacKenzie | May 13 2010, 09:37 AM Post #5 |
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Operative
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No one had dared try to stop the blond haired woman as she walked a steady and determined path about the ship looking for the people she had come on board with. Something was wrong, they knew that much from how pale she had faded the instant she had dismissed herself at practice to take a private call. Her hands still shook out of fear more than anger still after hearing what the message had said to her just about more than where it had been recorded at. Jon knew. He knew something and... and... Swallowing hard the Captain nervously popped her fingers. It had been a habit picked up from the early days of the War. Tension building up seemed to be released quickly just from the sheer pressure being released from her joints, but there was only so many times it could be done. Gwen felt numb inside still hearing her brother's words ring in her ears. "I have to admit, Shi, you run quite a tight operation here. Don't... bother to rush on your return home. We've taken the liberty to see that your ship is exactly where you left it." All this had been said from sitting in the pilot's seat. Tom's seat. Right on board her ship. Gwen could still hear the distant sounds of the ship being tossed about by his henchmen. That hadn't bothered her as much as it should have. They weren't going to find anything about the Underground or why they were trailing behind the cruise ship. On the contrary- for all they would know it was a delivery mission which they had been granted a few days break there for their troubles. No that wasn't what had made the usually stoic woman have a close panic attack. "Your doctor was quite the host," Jon had sneered, a smug little look on his face as he leaned back in the old seat. " A little on the snooty side as per the usual for traitors such as himself. He didn't even offer us a drink while we waited for your return. The child though, Rosalee, is quite charming. She and Cassidy will get along quite nice I think. They both have a certain fire to them that seems common in those that you surround yourself with." Jon had her baby girl and he had Rosie as well. How the hell the man had learned about where Cassidy was hiding at was beyond what her mind could wrap around. She knew Drew could take care of himself, though imagining the mess that they were going to leave him in was enough to make breathing come harder. Jon was breaking her entire world apart at the seems. "Don't play me for the fool and think I do not know what exactly you are doing here, little sister. You are hiding something and I am going to find it out. We all know you were never good at keeping secrets from me. If you want the children back, come to Hera. The Memorial Gardens four days from now. That should give you plenty of time to lick your wounds before you decide to let your temper get the best of you." The mission was over. They had to get to Hera. Not quite storming her way in to the employees bar she let now blue eyes quickly sweep the faces of the patrons that were there. It wasn't a full room, thankfully, but enough that it took her a moment longer than necessary to find two of her crew. The place had become an impromptu meeting area when no one else could be found. Seeing Cora there though? If it had been any other day Gwen would have paused to laugh. Instead her pained steps quickly took her to where the two were sitting at. How was she ever going to explain this to Hunter? |
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| Coralyn Cardew | May 13 2010, 01:03 PM Post #6 |
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Specialist
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Rolling her eyes like a 12 year old at Hunter’s meagre explanation, Cora focussed on moving the glass around in her hand as if it made for far more fascinating conversation. Following his glance to the inhospitable creatures in the corner, she gave a little sigh. He had a point. Not that she was going to admit it. No, the alcohol was making her meekness fly way out into space, and she was supreme. No, no, she was practically a goddess! A goddess with a scapel! She cleared her throat, and offered a large smile as someone passed by a little too close for comfort. “I am quiet shertain, I mean certain, darling Aleksei, that in comparison to you, they are the crème de la crème of basic humanity.” What was it he’d said? Presumptuous?! She could think of a better term for what he was. “And don’t use words you can’t spell.” She added grumpily, knocking back the next shot with such gusto that she nearly fell plain off her seat. Behind her she saw a brief flash of blonde hair. It was that lady! For a moment her mind blanked, then the features of Gwen came properly into focus. “Ta da.” Cora announced. “One Captain, just for you. Now go away, you irritating little man. I am QUITE capable of looking after myself.” She pointed at her chest proudly. “I am a dancer! No, doctor! No, no... dancer. Certainly. Yes.” She tilted her head towards the bemused looking barman. “And again please, kind Sir.” He looked quite noble in a filthy, primitive kind of way and he did his duty well. Another shot materialised. Hurrah! |
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| Gwen MacKenzie | May 15 2010, 09:40 AM Post #7 |
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Operative
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It didn't take Gwen long at all to make up the distance between where she was at and where two of her crew were. Unfortunately for her she wished she could have been running instead. Coming up between the two the Captain reached for the shot that was sitting on the countertop hopefully before Cora could even think about downing another. The older woman needed it more than her young doctor and, if things were bad on the ship, she'd need her more or less non-drunk to help fix people back up. Gwen hadn't realized her hands were shaking as bad as they were quickly prompting her to squeeze her hands shut when the shot glass was back on the bartop. "Mission's over," the Captain said lowly, no emotion to her words making them seem more like a chore than what it should have been. "Go back your bags- hurry- and tell the others to be at the shuttle in fifteen minutes. I'm going to go explain to our 'boss' something has come up and we need to leave." Rosie... Drew... Cassidy- her brother was a monster. Blue eyes glanced back to Hunter as she started to push away. "Tell Fi not to say a word to any of you why we are leaving until we're safe away from this ship. We'll explain everything on the flight back to home." As she started to leave, Gwen leaned in toward Cora dropping her voice low hoping Hunter was already jumping to action over trying to ease drop. "Sober up quick, little sister. Did you bring any medical supplies with you? If not see what you can get from the staff infirmary here without getting caught." Uncertain legs took her just as quickly out of the room as she had entered in it. A sudden swell of a brewing storm that was not going to be pretty by the time they got back to the Cressida. Now was only a matter of talking their way off the ship and back to their own. |
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| Hunter Williams | May 16 2010, 04:11 PM Post #8 |
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Aerial Ace
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Hmmmmmmm... If the blasted irritating woman hadn't actually been right about Hunter not being able to spell 'Presumptuous' the man would have rattled off the letters just to rub it in her face. But, seeing as he couldn't, he simply scowled at her as soon as another bar patron passed by. Doctor?! With that kind of a slip up there was no way Hunter could leave her alone, and babysitting a lightweight was not what he needed to be doing right about now. "Get yer head on straight you fool of a little girl. Ain't got time for this..." Thank god it actually was Gwen. Glancing back to the bar Hunter eyed the glass being poured with an exasperated eye. Reaching out he moved to snatch it up and down it himself before Cora could get to it, the least she owed him for what he was about to have to endure on her behalf. But Gwen's fingers lashed out and snatched the drink away even before he could reach it, knocking it back with a look on her face he only recognized from years before. What the hell was wrong. Instantly his demeanor shifted, no longer in the mood to partake in a childish little game of name calling like he'd been perfectly content with moments before. His jaw tightened, listening carefully to each word. Abort mission. The message came through loud and clear, but the reasoning for why was never given. It could be anything; security was compromised because someone slipped up a name, command called them back, a time sensitive target that was extremely important had just cropped up... And Gwen was heading up the effort to identify opposing Alliance teams with the same mission goals. Maybe it had something to do with that. No matter the reason they were getting out of there at lightning speed while maintaining a normal cover so that meant not flat out running away from the bar. Trying to remain inconspicuous was key. Turning back to the bartender (who was looking a little surprised at the stolen drink) Hunter tossed down a healthy payout for the booze that had been served. "I thenk our friend has hat a lietle too much of zis eh? All zis foreign viskey drink she has goes quick to zee head!" Slipping from the stool Hunter took her hand firmly to 'guide' the woman away from the bar. "Sasha, friend, come now. Ryan will be looking for his sester." |
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| Coralyn Cardew | May 16 2010, 04:28 PM Post #9 |
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Specialist
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“Oi!” Coralyn snapped, as the wonderfully materialising drink... dematerialised. Gwen had snatched it! Well that just wasn’t cricket, and she was going to tell her so. Before the opportunity arose though, the Captain’s hushed, urgent and deadly serious tone managed to penetrate her ears. Trouble? Mission? Over? “Oh, bloody hell...” she muttered, struggling off her seat. How utterly annoying. She doubted she’d even need her supplies, Dr. Lancaster always seemed to have those sort of situations under control. It was probably nothing, maybe that rambunctious litte child had just unplugged one too many wires. Or Fi had gotten into a fight or... oh there was no end of possibilities. Still, it couldn’t be helped not while she was hurtling along aimlessly with this godforsaken crew. “C’est typicale. Right, we’d better go then. One for the road please, barman?” that privilege was taken from her too, as she found herself being led away from her brand new best friend by that dreadful man. Oh really, that was just plain rudeness... “Kindly keep your hands off me! My father told me all about what Russian men want.” She said to Hunter primly, with a little extra volume, just to attract attention. Tipsy Cora wasn’t quite ready to let their game of one-upmanship go yet. Besides, it wasn’t actually a lie. General Cardew been very firm on his opinion of Mikhail, even before all the trouble began. Squirming herself out of his grip, she started for the exit, keeping her pace fast. “And ANOTHER thing!” she added, turning her head around as she walked. “I would appreciate it if next time you’d tell me PRECISELY what’s-“ SMACK. Cora’s head collided quite spectacularly with the wall that seemed to have moved a few feet to the left. |
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| Hunter Williams | May 16 2010, 06:12 PM Post #10 |
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Aerial Ace
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So much for keeping it all under the radar, but at least it was a believable. She fought, he let go, looking like that exasperated friend most everyone had pissed off once or twice in a bar before. "Zis is not a funny joke for a newly married man Mees Glass. And you know how she ees, she would have me on pikes! Not worth eet for any woman I don't thenk." And then it happened, something that the man had only seen in his dreams, Cora stormed off in a self-righteous indignant huff STRAIGHT into a wall! While he probably should have stepped forward quickly to try and 'save' her from smacking face first into a solid object, he didn't budge an inch to try and warn her. It was a glorious moment in which Hunter Williams truly had to struggle an maintain self control to keep from dancing a little jig and falling to the floor himself from laughter. That fucking served the little prim and proper woman better than any words from his mouth. "Best be getting you to the medic friend, to check heal things before the show!" A sentiment most folk in the bar would understand, no one wanted to mess up their act, and a perfect excuse to get her into the infirmary for a chance to restock in a hurry. Maybe grab her some coffee on the way to sober the woman up. No matter how he was enjoying this the mission, or emergency retreat, was more important right now. Taking a firm hold on Cora's arm for a second time, Hunter lead them a step sideways to the real exit from the bar. |
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