Snippet #2249204

Aisling had not expected the Sailor's outburst. However, he had quickly recovered from his initial shock and, knowing full well that the Sailor was out of line, had been about to ask his silver-haired friend to show the Sailor her invitation. When he turned to look at her, he was surprised--again.

Haine glared at the Sailor, her eyes darkening a tone. "I am not a stowaway. If I was..." she jabbed the thin envelope containing her invitation against the man's chest, "... what is this?"

The sailor backed away, sputtering. Quite frankly, Aisling couldn't blame him. Although she had maintained her calm and stoic tone, layers of anger coated the young woman's words like knives--even Aisling felt the urge to take a step back.

The girl continued, growling out her words. "An invitation to this boat! Now apologize to Aisling!"

Hearing his name, the coffee haired man flinched. The attention was back on him now and, for the moment, he couldn't seem to find any recognizable vocabulary. "Eh. He-he-he..." He smiled weakly. Veeeeery smooth.

Still eying Haine carefully, the Sailor--a thin, stocky red headed man, with hazel eyes, perhaps in his mid twenties--turned to Aisling. Aisling paused for a moment. Somehow, the sailor seemed familiar. But, the syndicate fighter thought, I've never set foot on a ship--not one that was manned anyhow. The Sailor muttered an reluctant apology.

His mind racing to identify the slight recognition, Aisling simply nodded at the man's apology. Where? Where? Where had he seen this man before? He pondered the question in silence. Then, he felt his friend's gaze. "Oh," he paused, his brow wrinkling as he tried to figure out why she was looking at him with a rather expectant expression. The Sailor had returned her invitation to her--he didn't have it in his hands anymore. But, under his slightly scared expression, Aisling thought he also saw streaks of anger on the man's face. The anger wasn't simply towards Aisling--it was also directed towards Haine. The shadow in the corridor where they were standing gave the Sailor's white hat a darker tone--almost black.

Aisling's brown eyes widened. That's where he had seen this man before, five years ago... A single thought echoed through Aisling's mind: Dang.

Another voice entered the vicinity. "Hey Aisling, something wrong?" It was Seth with his Zorua.

"Yes," Aisling muttered, his eyebrow furrowing. "I think something could very well be wrong." Then, without warning, he moved. Grabbing the Sailor's right wrist and twisting it slightly--causing the man to yelp--, Aisling pinned the man against the wall. "However, I think he should be the answerer of that." He glared at the man, "Isn't that right, Team Rocket Member?"

The red haired man growled, "I have--"

"'No idea what' I'm 'talking about'?" Aisling's expression tightened and he pushed the man harder against the wall. "What are you doing here and who else is with you?!"