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Blue Hershall

She bundles her cloud of hair away from her face, sneaking glances from underneath her eyelashes.

0 · 688 views · located in Sol

a character in “Sojourn of the Astral Providence”, as played by Owl Eyes

Description

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Graduate: Laelia Helen Narssicime Hershall
Known Alias(es): Blue
Species: Human - Genetically Altered
Age: 25 (Relative-- SEE RELEVANT EVALUATIONS)
Sex: Female
Birth World: Beullarys Epsilon
Identifying Physical Characteristics: Turquoise hair, diminutive stature, dark brown skin and blue eyes
Equipment Issued: Neural Integrated CompuCheck 4000 series - Standard


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Background: Ms. Hershall is a Neuvo Spouse, a subset of genetically-altered homo sapiens created with the purpose of fulfilling the life-partner role among the uncoupled wealthy (practice popular in the Centauri System). Typical traits among Neuvo Spouses include: enhanced feature symmetry, soft-spoken or timid demeanor, robust physical constitution, accelerated early growth, limited logical and computational skills (all relative to an unaltered human). Neuvo Spouses are gestated and matured within 7-10 years. Chronologically, Ms. Hershall is approx. 17 years old (pursuant to Interstellar Executive Action 2.347.a, age of record has been advanced to reflect physical and mental maturity). Records indicate that the initial genetic modification did not achieve desired results and Ms. Hershall developed logical and computational skills well above range among unaltered humans, which made her unsuitable as a wife.

Areas of concern: While Ms. Hershal excels in Navigational skills, she maintains significant deficits in interpersonal skills. As a function of early life, Ms. Hershall lags behind her peers in several areas including: emotional self-regulation, independence, and general resilience. While Ms. Hershall is an exceptional navigator, future employers should be advised of potential difficulties.

So begins...

Blue Hershall's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
"Blue" Hershall: Navigator

Blue was not hiding. Yes, she'd wedged herself into a narrow strip of space between some abandoned cargo crates and yes, she was doubled over with her hands on her knees, but the purpose of hiding was to evade a specific person or persons and Blue was intent on evading... everyone at the moment. She'd been managing panic attacks for a day or so in advance of accepting her first real position as a navigator. Suddenly, the weight of the past four years was pressing down on her and so, she hid.

She twitched her pinky finger and a clock winked dimly into existence across the back of her left hand. It's almost time, she thought and gripped her knees more tightly. Her hair was falling out of the neat ponytail it'd been in when she left her hotel this morning. Turquoise curls fell over her turquoise eyes and she watched the locks sway slightly as she breathed. Her counselor at school would have conniptions if he could see her now. Hiding between dirty, rust-worn cargo crates was as unbecoming as it could get for a "lovely young lady" such as herself. The very thought of that greasy old toad smarming at her over the rim of his glasses sent her temper rumbling. The anger loosened the band around her chest, just a little. She'd learned when she entered the Astral Academy that anger had a curiously neutralizing effect when she was otherwise paralyzed by panic. Slowly, Blue straightened her spine, pressing her palms against the rough corrugated steel on either side of her. The whirlwind was shrinking. She smoothed her cloud of turquoise locks and squeezed herself back out into the street. Setting her jaw, she took a quick glance at the street around her, steadily ignoring the few people on the docks giving her weird looks. She adjusted her pack and marched past landing pads 12 and 13. Her step faltered as she turned to approach the Astral Providence and the two figures that stood before her, but she bit down on the inside of her cheek and surged forward before she could lose her nerve.

"Captain Graves?" The woman was easily one of the more intimidating people Blue had ever met. She was at least a head taller with a stern expression and sweeping scar. "I'm Blue. Hershall. Your navigator. Sorry." She winced, but resisted the urge to melt into the ground. She'd spent hours strategizing the best way to deal with her name. She hated the flowery monstrosity she'd inherited from Neuvo Corp., but short of dying and being reborn there wasn't much she could do about it when it came to official document. And now she looked like an idiot with an idiot's name. Perfect.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
'Needle' Jefferson: Pilot of the Astral Providence

He'd only just finished laughing at the Captain when he half interrupted himself, frowning as the shape of a woman, no, a girl walked towards them. Was she lost? He cast a half-desperate-mostly-curious glance at the good Captain before returning to look at the young lady that approached them. Jesus. She looked terrifying, and Emilie's stern gaze would do nothing to help. The girl must just be running an errand, or maybe she was lost. As he peered closer, Needle guessed her age to be maybe...twenty? She didn't appear too young, but where was that confidence most girls of her age had? He shook his head slowly, and listened to her introduction.

If he had had it in him to be surprised at her introduction, his jaw may have dropped. Bless her cotton socks. She was so green, and he knew that this had to be her first official post. And this was their navigator. A hole opened in his stomach. He was already worried for her. He of all people knew what he could be liked - and the last thing he wanted to do was scare the girl in some crazy, spontaneous maneuver.

After a second of silence, he gathered his thoughts. Being scared for her wouldn't help. All he could do was attempt to make her feel at ease, because the Captain still hadn't moved, but the seconds were stretching out longer. Needle fixed an easy, lazy smile on his face and welcomed her.

"Nothing to apologise for, kid," he grinned, the perfect picture of relaxation, "She's stuck with that face. We try not to remind her of it too often. Hurts her ego, you know?" Needle jumped lithely from the box he'd been reclining on to approach her and offer a hand.

"They call me Needle. Great to meet you," he told her warmly, before lowering his voice paternally, "Just call me Jack though."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON
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#, as written by Andreis
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Emilie Graves

"Didn't expect me?" Emilie laughed in response. "Jack, I was here hours ago" She said as her grin faded into a look of amusement. She walked back down the ramp to the satisfying rhythm of boots on plating and took a deep breath, resuming her at-ease stance at it's base. "It's my ship" she added emphatically, though her voice was more serious this time. "And I missed it." She fell silent for a few moments, surveying the catwalks, cargo crates, and doorways. It seemed she finally managed to regain the brooding composure previously held but that there was something more easy about it now; something more natural. She shifted, mostly all in her spine, and cleared her throat. "And I'm not grumpy" she said with an indignant little sniff. "I'm..." she paused as though struggling with the right word "... captainly." Not even she believed that and her eyelid twitched as she shot an amused glare at Jack. "I'm rusty dammit." she whispered through a maddened little giggle but she cut it off sharply as a small figure came into view.

Emilie Graves raised a skeptical eyebrow at Blue as she approached but made no obvious expressions of approval or disapproval.
Everyone deserved a chance to advocate for themselves and appearances often meant little. She cast a chiding look at Jack as a late response to his concern. Then the introduction clued her in on the situation. The navigator, Ms. Hershall, was not an unknown to Captain Graves. She had done some research on this diminutive candidate and, as it turned out, skittish tendencies aside, Blue was a damn good navigator.

Of course, as usual, Jack was the first to pipe up and ruin the captain's silence test. Graves rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, waiting until Jack had finished being charming. Then she piped up with a neutral tone of affirmation. "Jack's right, you've nothing to apologize for, Blue." She looked directly at Blue's eyes unwaveringly, as if to say yet, as Emilie Graves stepped up next to the pilot. "And yes, I am Captain Graves." She added. "And this..." she gestured at the vessel's aft looming behind her "... is the Astral Providence." Then she gave the girl a small smile that was more social grace than an emotional expression and extended her hand. "Welcome aboard."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Blue Hershall

The seconds stretched in silence, and Blue felt her face start to warm. Why wasn't she saying anything? Maybe... maybe she hadn't realized that Blue was a Neuvo? Maybe now she wouldn't want her as navigator. Or maybe there was something she was supposed to say, some norm among space crews that she was forgetting. Blue was wracking her brain and was just starting to chew her lower lip nervously when the second figure-- a man she was close enough to see, spoke.

"Nothing to apologise for, kid. She's stuck with that face. We try not to remind her of it too often. Hurts her ego, you know?" Blue couldn't catch the little gasp as it erupted from her, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, then put both her hands at her side, blushing furiously through her cocoa-colored skin. Her gaze darted back and forth between the man and the captain, waiting for her reaction, but he continued talking smoothly, seemingly unconcerned with his own informal tone. "They call me Needle," he said extending his hand. "Great to meet you. Just call me Jack though."

Blue blinked at Jack's hand, taken aback and slightly... pleased. Things really were different in the Sol System. Around Centauri, her face, her hair, everything about her marked her as a Neuvo Spouse. She was used to being treated as easily acquired property, or even being ignored completely. Even at the Academy, she'd endured countless patronizing smirks and dismissive glances. This, being treated like an actual person, was like nothing she'd ever experienced.

Blue shook Jack's hand, smiling shyly. "Oh, um, it's my pleasure," she said. His hand was warm and rough, and his smile was genuine.

The captain spoke and the warm feeling she'd had receded a bit. Once she spoke, Captain Graves was only slightly less frightening than she was when she was silent. Blue found herself looking away from her intense stare and studying her polished boots instead. Still, she managed a hesitant smile as the captain welcomed her aboard the Astral Providence. Looking at the ship, she clasped her hands behind her back trying to restrain herself. She'd expected to be sick with panic upon seeing the actual vessel she'd be completing her first assignment on, but now that she was here, she could barely contain her excitement. This was it, this was her chance to prove she was more than just someone's wife gone wrong. The chances that she screwed this up were... Blue stopped that thought in its tracks.

"Thank you, Captain," she said and was pleased that her voice didn't waver. "I'm happy to be here."


Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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The Inn and Out 'Rest House', Titan
Aimery Slora, Engineer and Systems Technician


Aimery sat in the quiet hotel. It was almost never this peaceful, but early in the morning, guests mostly went with droopy eyelids. She nursed a lukewarm cup of coffee, allowing the mug to warm her hands with the tiny remnants of heat it still retained, and checked the projection clock on the wall. Her attention barely wavered as another guest left, a merchant woman dressed in reds and whites. She was here often, and a reliable source of information about the close moons. The blonde watched, disinterested, as the innkeeper bustled about with coffee and breakfasts. Aimery practically lived in this hotel on the off days, when the doctor didn't need her around and the extra rooms were filled with parts and customers. It was no palace, that was for sure- it was ancient and rather seedy, a place where you could easily lose almost anything on your person. It suited Aimery quite nicely; she had nothing to lose and feared no man.

Another customer entered the lobby, passing the bar to the receptionist. The lady seemed almost as old as the building itself, and Aimery had seen more customers than she'd like trying to slip the old woman a few less credits than they owed. However, the wrinkled woman had the eyes of a hawk, and no one left the inn without paying exactly what they owed. Outside of her money, though, she could care less, and the lost and found items were rarely returned to their rightful owners.

The man that had just walked downstairs was dressed nicely, if a wrinkled white shirt and work boots could be considered 'nice'. He paid, eyeing the box of lost possessions with a curious eye. He'd come in rather late, when she was working the reception, and paid little mind to her curious eye. He seemed like a man who'd come across a lot of adventure; in good shape and scarred up. The two women hanging off his arm stole most of his attention, however, and she'd only caught little snatches of the intoxicated conversation. Aimery had caught just enough to connect him to the rumors that had been passing through for weeks. A local celebrity of sorts, Emilie Graves, would be docking and recruiting a crew for what was supposedly her last mission. The man seemed much more put together this morning, and though he was feeling the effects of a hangover, he managed out of the inn well enough. Abandoning her mug on the counter on a rash fancy- something Aimery was not known for- she trailed after the handsome man. If this crew could get her out of the city, she was more than willing to trail along for a little adventure.

He headed towards the docks, a bag tossed over his shoulder. Aimery realized that she carried no possessions with her- she owned very little besides her credits and a few little inventions of her own- her psionic bracelet, a small card for credits- old fashioned, but functional, and most thieves weren't even familiar enough with the thing's value to steal it- and a few parts wrapped in a cloth, tied to her belt. She had only the clothes on her back and a brilliant mind.

He walked up to a brown-haired, officer-looking woman who Aimery assumed was Emilie Graves. She was intimidating and dressed for the part, and the blonde decided to hang back for a moment to assess the situation. Following the man had been enough of a risk, and she wasn't about to charge in with no knowledge of the situation. The man, called 'Needle' by the captain, seemed to be fondly returning to the ship, and the two appeared to know each other quite well, striking up a bit of a conversation before a girl stumbled up to the scene. Aimery's brow furrowed as she worked out the situation- a new recruit, clearly, and a bit of a nervous wreck. They spoke, the dynamics within the conversation quite intriguing. The blonde decided that it was now or never, and she stepped into the street, walking a few paces before approaching the ship.

"Good morning. Is this the Astral Providence? I heard that Captain Graves was recruiting crew members."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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#, as written by Ordo
Saturn View Inn, Titan
Nate Hunter

Nate woke to the sound of his alarm, panting and in a cold sweat. He looked around at the small darkened room disoriented. How many days has it been? he wondered thinking about The Ulysses in the maneuver over Tau Ceti Not now he thought as he stood up and switched on the light. The light reviled a small, fairly plush hotel room. He went to start some coffee in the small pot that sat on the desk in the corner of the room then took a quick shower as the beans became coffee.
Nate dressed in what civvies he had: Dark blue dress shirt, black denim pants, black knee boots and a worn old brown flight jacket.
As he drank his coffee he scanned the holo-news stations then tossed the remote down as he realized his watch didn't update to station time and he would be late to the docks. He grabbed his bag with his meager belongings and dashed down to the desk and payed his rent, it was fairly hefty but it was his first time in Sol system and this was the first inn that he felt he wouldn't be knifed in his sleep at. He ran through the small city that had been built near the docks and passed an inn that had a name that made him smile The Inn and Out 'Rest House' he read and chuckled out loud as it was an interesting phrasing style, he quickly came to the docks counting them as he went.
"Twelve, thirteen...Oh My look at you!" he mumbled as the saw The Astral Providence for the first time. He walked around some containers and other cargo and saw a small group gathered at the base of the cargo ramp, he tossed the duffel bag back up on his shoulder and stood at parade rest while his eyes darted over the ship.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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#, as written by Andreis
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Emilie Graves

Within a few minutes, two more faces arrived at Landing Pad 14 down the wide cargo-ready thoroughfare to the vessel's stern. Emilie's heart surged and her chest swelled with something it had not felt in years: Pride. She had a crew after all this time; she had a ship that was supplied; and she had the freedom to choose what happened next. She knew that they could stand up to anything if they were clever enough but that seemed a very far off notion to think about so soon. She looked between everyone gathered with a slow, sweeping gaze that still managed to seem enigmatic and icy.

"Yes on both accounts." She responded without much feeling to Aimery. Her hands clasped behind her once more and she took a few steps back, rising with each stride up cargo ramp. Still talking to Aimery she said "We'll talk." She paused, facing the gathered crew and reached right hand to gently grasp one of the ramp pistons. A small smile touched her lips in that pause and she took a deep breath, talking a little more loudly than before.

"As most of you know, I'm Captain Graves, and this..." she patted the strut "... is The Astral Providence. Some of you I reviewed before I saw your faces and some of you have come on the whim of a hope. So here is what you need to know. As captain, I expect you to follow my command; and, that being said, I don't often make commands. I expect you to do your job and, for all our sake, do it well."

She paused, letting the last part sink in. It seemed that even much of the nearby cargo work had stopped. Then a fierce, wolfish grin swiftly consumed all the ice and neutrality in her features and a blazing fire lit behind her eyes. There was a charismatic kind of mania in it all, like watching a skilled acrobat.

"Step lively" she almost shouted and gestured at the cargo entry with a flourish of her left arm. She neutralized her tone a little as she added "and do tell me what you can do on your way up." She looked at Jack with the ghost of that wolfish grin. "The helm is calling."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
'Needle' Jefferson

Jack watched the newcomers with a carefully schooled expression. He'd taken a liking to the shy kid, so leaned casually against some stacked crates not too far from her. She reminded him of a mission he'd been on, the year before his honorable discharge. He'd not long been a pilot, and they'd run a routine mission to evacuate a small town at risk from the usual geographic turmoil. Volcanoes, or some such. It had been a small, experimental colony on some forgotten moon - really nothing worth remembering. Except for their temporary passengers. The Solar Falcon, his ship at the time, picked up the resident team of scientists, and among them, one of their daughters. She couldn't have been more than ten, born and bred on the moon, and she'd had the same nervous energy as Blue did. Excited, but nervous. He'd sat her on his lap and let her fly the ship - until the Captain caught him. That had not ended well.

Blue reminded him of that kid, so, some part of him was already sure he'd take her under his metaphorical wing.

The most recent woman to approach their little party looked oddly familiar. Maybe he'd seen her around town the previous night, through an alcohol and perfume fueled haze? Thinking of that made his stomach flip - it was definitely too soon to be remembering the hangover he'd pushed to the furthest corner of his brain. He reserved judgment on her. She really hadn't given much away of her personality, but she looked tidy enough. He reckoned she'd be reliable, at least, and he could already tell that she would have a shrewd eye.

And then there was the new man. It took Needle less than a moment to cast a sweeping glance over him and make a judgment, and he was not pleased. He frowned. He'd taken this job to avoid the Navy, not continue to be tracked by it, and although this man had no idea who he was, Jack didn't trust him. His fingers flexed involuntarily. He tried to not look at him with as much distrust and was pleasantly distracted by Emilie's loud footsteps.

He really couldn't help the smirk that crept upon his face at her postulating, so he hid it behind a hand, hoping he looked brooding, yet attentive. He liked Emilie, a lot. Their previous meetings had always been fun, so he was looking forward to working with her.

"The helm is calling"

Oh boy, that was a phrase he'd been waiting to hear all day. He practically bounced up, scooping up his duffle bag, flovertaking the Captain in just a few strides. He called back over his shoulder for the benefit of the rest of the crew.

"Name's Needle. Pilot. Nice to meet you."

He wound his way through the ship, knowing that the others were likely only just behind him. He'd studied the blueprints every day since he'd been notified of the opening. He already knew the ship, but when he stepped into the helm, she really did take his breath away.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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#, as written by Ordo
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Nate Hunter

Having taken in as much as he could of the ship he switched his focus to the people standing around him.
The Captain, a hansom woman who looked like you wanted to stay on her good side or else you would get the dressing down of your life from her. Although she looks to have a good sense of humor from the way her eyes twinkle when she speaks of space.

The lean man looks to be the impulsive sort, but there was something else to him that Nate couldn't place. Nate made a mental note to watch him and learn.

Nate looked at the younger girls and wondered what positions they were in the crew as they didn't look to be passengers, but he reminded himself that he could be wrong.

He fell-in behind the others as the Captain said to follow her and list their off their positions, Nate was about to speak when the lean man spoke and said he was the pilot. Nate nodded understandingly, now the impulsiveness he saw in the other man made seance.
He decided to get to know the pilot as part of being an engine tech was to support the pilot by having the engines at their best when he or she needed them. Or at least that was Nate's feelings on the matter.
Nate spoke up after a moment went by "Nate, Engine Tech"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Blue

Pad 14 had begun to fill up at an alarming rate. Blue found herself shrinking towards Jack in a way that she hoped was imperceptible. Sure, she had met him literal seconds before these strangers, but he seemed kind. That was better than nothing.

The girl who appeared was blonde, fine-featured, and tiny, even shorter than Blue, who was used to being towered over by others. Blue avoided meeting her gaze, and began to twist her fingers. Women, especially women her own age, were a baffling sort of danger all their own. They were often sweet -- sickeningly so, but could also be horrifyingly cruel as well. They could play at being your friend for days, or weeks, or years before turning around and betraying you in the worst way. Men were easy enough for Blue to read: they wanted her or they ignored her. Women she had yet to figure out.

The man who appeared didn't even speak as he fell into their crowd. Was everyone else so at ease, so sure that they were meant to be here? How long would it be before she felt that way...? With the way Captain Graves stare pierced her as she spoke, Blue had a feeling it might be a long while.

Jack pushed off the bed of crates he had been leaning against as soon as the Captain was done speaking and bounded up the ramp towards the ship. "Name's Needle," he said over his shoulder, almost as if it were an afterthought. "Pilot." Blue tilted her head, but didn't say anything. He hadn't told the others to call him Jack... was that a good thing? Maybe he had decided that she seemed kind as well...

The second man spoke as Jack disappeared into the ship, and Blue drifted along in his wake, skirting Captain Graves as she went by. "Nate, Engine Tech," he said. They certainly seemed to be a crew of few words.

"I'm-- well, you can call me Blue," she said, more to the newcomers than the captain. Well, at least to their shoes. "Everyone does. I'll be navigating. Please to meet you, Nate. And...?" She steeled herself internally and glanced up at the girl, offering her a shy smile. Maybe this one could be different?

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Aimery Slora


Aimery received a quick reply from the captain, and the blonde could read no emotion on the brunette's face. Emilie seemed to hide her emotions well, much like herself, and as the girl's attention was caught by a new arrival- a tall, military-esque man that seemed to make Needle the slightest bit uncomfortable, the waifish tech took a better look at the other two crew members.

Needle was a tall man, looking like he'd had his fair share of adventures, and the more that she looked at him the more the memories from last night came back- snatches of memory, maybe a few drunken comments here or there. However, he seemed thrilled to be back in the air. Hopefully he didn't remember her, not too well at least, and they could start over. She was determined to make a good impression on everyone in the crew- and being on Needle's good side would hopefully win her a little favor with the captain. The two seemed close.

The girl was quiet and nervous, but Aimery was sure that intelligence bloomed behind the frail exterior. Blue seemed oddly familiar to the blonde, but Aimery couldn't place it. She was reminded of the escort-bots that sometimes accompanied their significant others to the hotel where she worked, but the bots were incredibly social and outgoing. Her cold gaze lingered one moment, two moments too long, and the tiny girl looked away.

The third arrival seemed clean-cut and straight-laced, and Aimery was almost instantly suspicious of him. He was reserved as well, sizing up the rest of the crew, and Aimery decided that she'd be keeping a close eye on him.

Captain Graves redirected Aimery's attention. It was already time to leave. The blonde cast one last look over the city, wondering if she'd ever return to the place she'd been born and raised. It was a ridiculous thought- this port city was a major trade area, and they'd most likely drop in often enough. That being said, Aimery still wasn't quite sure of the mission itself- which could completely change that. The fire in the captain's eyes was more than enough to convince her to leave it all behind, and as the crew started heading into the ship, Aimery decided that this was goodbye. She fell in last, behind Blue, and listened closely as they all introduced themselves. Needle was the pilot, which fit a few pieces together, and Nate was the engine tech. Aimery wondered if he'd notice if she shadowed- working under a cyborg-surgeon had taught her a lot, but on a much smaller and more biological scale.

Blue introduced herself to the captain, and Aimery was surprised when the girl turned back to her. "My name is Aimery Slora, and I can work as an engineer or systems technician. Whatever you need me to do, Captain." She straightened her jacket. "It's nice to meet you, Blue."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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#, as written by Andreis
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Emilie Graves

Like picking up an old familiar hobby, Emilie quickly settled into the comfortable zone halfway between authoritative and friendly; much like how her mother used to get during family functions. A simple expectation that things would get done but no wrath to accompany it. Emilie was a harder woman than her mother, though. She didn't have the lifetime of child rearing and husband tolerating to temper her eyes into a focusing lens of shame. Whats that? You didn't do the dishes? I won't yell at you but I will stare into your very soul with reproach.. Bitterwseet memories gnawed at her walls like mice. She ignored them and turned a half-hearted look at Nate as soon as Jack was out of the immediate picture.

As she did with everyone, she immediately sized him up. A sort of chime resonated within the hurts of her past as she observed him. He was big, but not unduly so and he had the slabbed musculature of a working soul. Still, something within his stance whispered caution and secrecy. Something familiar, maybe? She schooled her expression into neutrality for the time and extended a hand to the big man.

"Welcome aboard, Nate. Cabins are up on the main deck and I'll pull the Prov's engine maintenance records for you." She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes and when he had passed her into the main hold, she cast a curious glance at him. She gave an expression that might have been a shrug had her body moved at all and turned back to see Blue standing next down the ramp. To the girl's credit she didn't seem to stumble over her words as much this time and was rather cannily, not in any obvious way worrying about Emilie's approval. Instead, she and Aimery became engaged in a brief exchange that one might expect to appear in a treatise on making friends.

When both had spoken their piece, the captain nodded to Aimery. "Very well, miss Slora. I think you'll end up working closely with Nate on the ship's overall maintenance but as for your exclusive duties..." she emphasized the word exclusive "... I imagine you'll be spending more time on the bridge. You'll be responsible for our emitters and electronics systems when we are actively engaged." She then gestured with a bob of her head to the hold behind her. "Main deck midship are crew cabins. No mandatory shared bunks on the prov. We're not the military." She winked briefly and turned to blue. "I'd like to speak with you privately for a moment."

When Aimery had gone, the captain stood silently until she was satisfied people were out of immediate earshot. "In your previous line of work, I imagine you may have received information on cultures, customs, peoples, and rimworlds" she said without rancor. Her voice was very measured and thoughtful. "I don't know if that is absolutely true for you but I want to make sure you don't hold out on us. If you know something else about a place we are headed... you tell me." She silently watched Blue for a moment and when she was satisfied the point was received, turned to walk into the hold. "Best get settled in your cabin" she added as she walked with steady purpose toward the cargo hoist and door controls.

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Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Blue

Blue released a puff of breath as Aimery answered. There was nothing mocking or hurtful in her tone. Blue could almost float. A successful social interaction... she adjusted her pack and made it about three steps up the ramp when Captain Graves turned to her.

"I'd like to speak to you privately for a moment," she said. Suddenly, Blue's feet weighed a thousand pounds. She opened her mouth, but closed it immediately with a pop, glancing at Aimery's retreating back. The last few minutes played over in her head, but even by her own wildly paranoid standards, there wasn't anything she'd done wrong. Blue folded her hands behind her back and chewed on her lower lip, waiting for the captain to speak.

There was a beat of silence as Aimery disappeared into the ship and Blue was alone with the Captain. She certainly didn't seem mad. She seemed to carry the same business-like attitude she'd had since they'd met, calm and in control. When she spoke, her words were... not gentle, but Blue felt the knot in the pit of her stomach ease somewhat. "In your previous line of work, I imagine you may have received information on cultures, customs, peoples, and rimworlds." Blue blinked. No one ever spoke about that time before. At the academy, everyone seemed determined never to mention it outright, only to allude to it every once in a while in the midst of a joke at her expense. "I don't know if that is absolutely true for you but I want to make sure you don't hold out on us. If you know something else about a place we are headed... you tell me." This startled Blue enough that she forgot herself, staring up into the captain's gaze.

There was not a substance more controlled on Beullarys than knowledge. For years, Blue subsisted on scraps, drinking in what could be deduced or overheard, baffled at why she was the only one starving for mental stimulation. Her only respite were the "product trainings," daily sessions in which she and her fellow spouses were given painfully slow instruction on the workings of various worlds. Neuvo Corp business stretched across the galaxy. It wouldn't do to sell a man a wife who couldn't prepare his native dishes after all.

But all of that was a long lifetime ago. She'd been running from those memories for years, hoping that once she'd out paced them, the shame would fade away as well. But now, the captain didn't look ashamed looking at her. She looked thoughtful. Blue blinked again.

"I... okay. Yes. Yes, captain," she said. Captain Graves watched her for a moment more and then turned way, making her way up the ramp again. "Best get settled in your cabin," she said. Blue stood stunned on the ramp for a moment longer, before heading in after her, feeling a bit dazed.

The ship seemed even more massive now that she was inside of it than it had from the dock. Every inch of the space was spotless and well cared for. Thankfully, it didn't take her long to find her way to the crew cabins. It seemed that the doors to unclaimed cabins had been left wide open. She chose an open room at random and entered, setting her pack down on her bed. The room was small, but in a way that made Blue feel safe. There hadn't been much luxury on Beullarys and large rooms made her feel panicky. The lights shone brightly... perhaps a bit harsh. She twitched her pinky and several lighted figures seemed to materialize along the edges of her vision. The ship's network was protected, but the encryption on certain functions was fairly standard. Blue crossed the room and laid a hand on then light panel, closing her eyes. After a moment, the lights dimmed to something more bearable. She would have to brave an actual conversation with the captain to get access to the ship's more essential processes... she drifted out of her room absentmindedly, poking through the system info she could find. She didn't see the other person in the hall until she had collided with them, sending herself stumbling back.

"Sorry!" she squeaked. "Sorry, I was just looking through the system specifications for the-- sorry, that doesn't matter, I just wasn't paying attention. Sorry."

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Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter
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#, as written by Ordo
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Nate Hunter

As he followed the others he nodded to Blue in response to her introduction.
As he continued the Captain turned to speak with him then offered her hand to him, Nate shook the pre-offered hand "Thank you Captain" he replied letting her hand go and went further in to the ship.

Finding the Stairs/ladder he quickly bounded up to the main deck and went to the last open cabin on the starboard side of the ship. He found a small but efficient room, with a bed, a terminal and either a closet or a bathroom he was not sure from this angle.
He sat his duffel bag on the bed and went back out to find his way to the engine room as he went back to the ladder to the lower deck he felt someone bump into his side and turned in time to see Blue stumble back, he smiled at her "No harm done" he said gently "Are you okay?"

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Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON
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Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Aimery Slora


Aimery nodded simply as the Captain briefed her on her duties. "I think you'll end up working closely with Nate on the ship's overall maintenance but as for your exclusive duties... I imagine you'll be spending more time on the bridge. You'll be responsible for our emitters and electronics systems when we are actively engaged." The way that the Captain had said exclusive made Aimery wonder what the deal was with it. Was she testing her?

Aimery knew what she was doing, so if it was a test, she was certain she could pass with flying colors.

After she turned to Blue, the blonde made her way into the ship. Aimery had been surprised by the lack of screening and suspicion Emilie Graves had. She'd asked for names and skills, and then Aimery was free to go. It made her slightly wary of her crew-mates, to be quite honest, and when the Captain held Blue back, the teenager wondered if there was something off about the girl that the Captain had noticed. If anyone, Aimery doubted that the snake among them was the timid girl, but she headed inside nonetheless and tried to find her way around.

The ship wasn't very large, and it was rather boxy and self-explanatory, but Aimery had never been on an operating ship quite like this. She was in awe of the humming machine, trailing fingers along the sleek wall as she chose a random hallway to start down. It was abandoned, which made her think that she was headed the wrong way, but it was humming with energy. Captain Graves had pointed them towards the cabins- main deck midship- but Aimery had the feeling she was going the wrong way. Luckily, she had no heavy belongings to set down, so she could start exploring effective immediately. She padded down a hallway, footsteps muffled and quiet- working as a thief had taught her that much- and peeked into a slightly ajar doorway.

She hadn't meant to follow being Needle, but she ended up right outside the helm. Aimery was hesitant to disturb him- he was surely already at work- but she was curious. Pushing open the door just enough to slip inside, she gazed over the panels. They made bits and pieces of sense to her- she was more used to the inside workings- but the man's excitement seemed to prove that it was a nice enough ship.

The only ones she'd dealt in were half-looted frames, so this adventure would be a nice change of pace.

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Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter
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Blue practically had to crane her neck up to see Nate's face. He towered over her and easily outweighed her by a hundred pounds. As open and friendly as he had been, Blue couldn't help but shrink back and away from him ever so slightly. She didn't want to be rude, but it was nerve-wracking standing so near someone who could casually pick you up and break you. Still, she returned his smile, if a little uncertainly.

"I'm fine. Just a little..." she cast a glance around her, taking in the walls, the multiple doors branching off, the access ladders leading to other parts of the ship. "Overwhelmed," she murmured. It seemed that the captain expected them to do a lot of learning by doing. "By chance, have you explored at all? Is that the way to the helm? I suppose the captain would probably be that way..." She folded her hands behind her back and stood straight as she spoke. It was an old and odd force of habit from the days when any interaction with a man was little more than a pitch to a potential customer. Blue hated it, but it tended to give her the illusion of control, so she fell back into it when she was alone with a strange man.

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Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter
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#, as written by Ordo
Crew area, Astral Providence
Nate Hunter

Nate nodded as she spoke "That's understandable" he said softly and looked as she pointed asking where the helm was.
As he looked down the way he was walking he saw something that caught his eye mounted on the bulkhead between the cabin Blue had and an empty one, he went and tapped on the screen "I was just about to take a look around the ship when we met" he said with a soft chuckle and after a couple more taps he had pulled up the Astral Providence's layout. He smiled slightly to Blue "Maintenance/visitors terminal" he explained pointing to the screen "You wanted to go to the helm?"

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Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter
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Blue tried unsuccessfully to smother her blush. She hadn't noticed the screens mounted in the center of the hallway. Still, Nate was smiling, which must have meant that he didn't think her too unobservant. She edged closer to him, surveying the layout projected on the screen. It seemed that they were on the main level, with the cargo hold and engines below them and the helm on the same level. The ship was somehow even larger on the inside than it appeared from looking at it-- and it had seemed pretty large to Blue from the dock. She traced a finger along the screen, from where she thought they were to where the helm was labeled. She looked around at their surroundings for a moment before pointing towards where the helm should be.

"That way...?" She frowned and then tried again. "I mean, definitely that way." She peeked a glance at Nate, offering a shy smile. "I'm supposed to be the navigator. I should hope I can manage a ship's layout..."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: [NPC] Bartender Character Portrait: Emilie Graves Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: 'Needle' JEFFERSON Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter Character Portrait: Aimery Slora
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#, as written by Andreis
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Astral Providence Commons Room

Emlie Graves


The cacophonous whine of hydraulic pumps drowned out the dock machinery working diligently outside the Astral Providence and the rising cargo ramp slowly blotted out the bright lights of the landing pad. With a thunk and a hiss, the interior doors and exterior ramp locked into place, leaving Emilie Graves in the dimness of a mostly empty cargo hold. She took one last stock of the supply crates and surged up the metal catwalk stairs toward the mid-ship. Now that the vessel was sealed up, there was business to discuss. With any luck, Jack was already going through prelaunch diagnostics and the other crew finding their way around the vessel with ease.

Through the central well, down the midship artery and on the other side of the crew cabins, Emilie finally arrived at the commons. A counter on the right marked the entrance to the galley and to the left was a somewhat cozy open room with a table, chairs, and an assortment of storage. On the far end of the room was another door that lead toward the power core and engines. The industrial interior was not pretty but it was sturdy and easy to repair and, as was evidenced in the commons, comfortable enough with a little tender love and care.

Emilie loitered around a chair on the far end of the table, facing the open door to the midship hall. All along her traverse from cargo to commons she had heard the voices of crew echoing faintly through halls and it left a warm feeling in her. The familiar jitters of pre-flight excitement were starting to build in her as she activated the ship-wide comms and spoke. Her voice sounded slightly tinny but clear. "Jack, Aimery, Nate, and Blue. Finish up whatever you're doing. Meeting in the ship's commons in 15. Aft of the cabins, midship." A gentle click from the speakers signaled the end of the notification and the captain set about tidying the room around her clearly busying an anxious mind.

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Character Portrait: Blue Hershall Character Portrait: Nathaniel Hunter
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#, as written by Ordo
Titan Space Dock: Landing Pad 14
Astral Providence Crew Cabins

Nate Hunter

Nate nodded as Blue pointed to the bow on the ship, then chuckled at her "Aww, you will do fine" he said as the Ship-wide comms clicked on, he turned to face the speaker and listened as the Captain spoke.
Nate turned back to face Blue "Well so much for exploring, eh?" he said with twinkle in his eyes. He looked at the screen and pointed "Looks like it should be on the other side of that bulkhead" he said pointing aft of the crew cabins and back the way he came.
Nate paused for a second and felt a little awkward as he started to show Blue the way to the helm then wondered if she would be offended if he did, he finally gathered his courage to talk to the small woman in front of him "If you need help to the helm, I would be glad to go with you" he said rubbing the side of his neck with his hand "Obviously I'll leave you to your duties...." he trailed off and felt like beating his head on the bulkhead in front of him, as he felt more like he just asked the young woman out to a dance than helping a fellow crew member to their station.