OOC: Oh! I’d like to get into something alright! Blast you, Alacrity! Why must you pick on Asher’s soft spot!

IC: “How’s that feel, huh?” Asher spoke lovingly to the Colt .22 as he gave it another wipe down. “I know, I know… I’ve been neglectin’ ya, and I don’t mean too. Them other girls are all hot and pretty like, but they ain’t got nothin’ on ya… All shiny like and buffed up. You’ll always be my first, girl.” He gentle placed the gun in it’s proper place, giving on more gentle touch.

Wrrap! Wrrap!
Asher looked up at the noise. What was that? he thought.

Wrrap! Wrrap! Wrraapp!
The noise was definitely coming from the cargo door. “Maybe the load’s here.” He said to the pistol. “Want to come along, hmmm?”

Asher quickly grabbed and holstered the Colt .22 and went up to see who was knocking.

“Hey Ma! We got company.” The lad called up to the kitchen as he made his way to the cargo doors. “Might be the load.”

Looking through the cargo doors, he caught sight of his company. And while it wasn’t the delivery he was hoping for, his eyes were not disappointed. He whistled lowly. “Mighty nice,” were the only words he could get out as he stared at the young lady on the ramp.

So caught up was he in the young woman’s natural beauty that he nearly forgot his manners. Only her movement to leave brought the Kid back to his senses. He pushed the button and the hatch opened with a hiss.

“Can I help, ma’am?” Asher said, trying hard not to let his eyes wander too much.

“I’m sorry. I was just… I mean I was hoping to speak to..Are you the captain? I need help something fierce and I don’t know where else to turn. I don’t have much money but I can work real hard. But work that is, not anything else! I’m not like that kind of …well you know.” She trails off and looks up at Asher helplessly.

“No need to apologize, miss,” Asher said confidently, trying to act all smooth like the Captain. “I ain’t the captain… he’ll be back soon though, if ya want to wait around for him.” He paused for a moment, mesmerized by the woman’s eyes, before adding, “You can wait in here, if ya like. I’m sure Ma wouldn’t mind."

School Daze/ Hot for Teacher Following the altercation and ruckus-free resolution of the situation back at the corral, Dash had seen fit to stay a little more on the paranoid side as the crew, with their new wrench turner in tow, continued on toward the schoolhouse. He engaged in some ‘long-time-no-see-how-ya-been’ banter with Wolf as they made their way through the town, playing catch-up with his old friend and warily scanning the more shadowed nooks and crnnies between the buildings that could provide a nice hidey hole for would be bushwackers. It was probably a good thing that he had the two things to occupy his mind, too, because between the twitchy and the ‘remember whens’ Sam had completely put it out of his mind that he was meandering towards a schoolhouse of all things.

The pilot had gone out of his way to avoid getting to close to any schoolhouses since that day during the war when he realized that the “Browncoat Hideouts” that he’d dropped a bomb bay full of ordnance on weren’t hideouts at all, but schools and churches and family homesteads. The very thought of the pain and suffering he had inflicted on innocents in the course of following orders and making the Verse a better place twisted in his gut like a rusted knife everytime he passed such a place.

“…so the guy at the end of the bar, flat stunned by what he just seen that gorilla do, says, ‘I’ll give it a try, but you don’t gotta hit me so hard,” Sam chortled, delivering the punchline to a rather crude joke as he nudged Wolf with an elbow. The joke was pretty disgusting, Sam had to admit, but it set him cackling like a hen every time he heard or told it and this time was no exception… the only difference was that, when Dash’s eyes fell upon the school house, his laughter died a sudden death as he swallowed the lump in his throat and his pace faltered for half a heartbeat.

“Ai yah tien ah (merciless Hell),” Sam muttered, maybe not as under his breath as he had hoped, “had ta be a gorram schoolhouse, din’it?” He sucked in a deep breath to steady himself and tried to talk his gut out of emptying right there on the dusty street, then, releasing that breath in a disbelieving sigh, fell back into step with the rest of the group.

As they got to the building, Dash somewhat reluctantly peered through one of the windows. The overall scene inside did little to help his guilty gut, at first - room full o’ kids an’ their schoolmarm ain’t ‘zactly breezy meadows when ya conjure how many of ‘em’s gonna be waitin’ fer ya in hell, is it? – but something about the schoolmarm herself helped to tweak Dash’s thoughts back towards a more distracted state before long and, despite the pangs of guilt and self-loathing that rippled through him, once corner of the pilot’s mouth started to curl up into an almost lusty grin.

“Bes’ behavior,” he heard Wyatt mutter as the captain ambled past and made for the door.

“Duhn ruhn,(of course)” Dash nodded, halfheartedly trying to tear his eyes away from the scrumptious schoolmarm, “This’s me yer talkin’ to, Cap; mei wen ti (no problem).” Wyatt was already at the door by the time Dash had managed to wrestle the promises out of his lusty heart, though, and Rocinante’s scruffy pilot was still trying to convince himself that ‘best behavior’ would be a do-able thing. “Mmmmm- mmm, but ain’t she an angel,” he purred, straightening his bandana and hitching up his britches as he stole one last peek at Bridget through the window before following the others into the schoolhouse, “I’d love ta show her my bes’ behavior, though, puhn yoh, an’ that’s the ruttin’ truth of it.”

Dash stepped through the door, taking his usual position just behind Wyatt and off to the left a piece. His whiskey colored eyes skimmed almost sadly over the roomful of youngsters but fixed quickly on Bridget, the flash of melancholy sparking into something of more smouldering nature, as the Cap made introductions.

“Name’s Wyatt Sung, and I was told you and I needed to talk. This here,” the Cap motioned loosely with his right hand to those who followed him, “are my crew: Ms. Willow Takahara, Mr. Sam Dash…”

The words “I c’n lick my own eyebrow,” threatened to spill past Dash’s lips, “an’ anythin’ else ya might cotton ta have tongued.” With Wyatt’s warning still fresh in his mind, though, and what with the man standing within head smacking reach, Dash simply nodded, his eyes locked on the schoolmarm; “Ma’am.”

“…and Mr…Wolf. If you’ve the time, we’d be mighty obliged to you.”

Yeah, an’ if ya’d skin outta that dress, I’d be more’n that.
Dash only truly heard bits and pieces of the rest of the conversation that followed and even muttered something to the effect of “with spectacles like that, I’m s’prised the kid can’t see what color bloomers Wil’s wearin’” when the young boy commented on Wyatt’s pistol. Beyond that – and perhaps the suggestive lift of any eyebrow at the schoolmarm’s comment about pointing at a man’s equipment – Dash was too all-fired wrapped up in watching Bridget’s lips move to pay any mind to the words they might’ve been making.

Other than a brief flash of memory – women and children, framed grainily in the bombcamera display of his Arclight bomber, as they ran screaming from the church his payload had just been dumped on – Sam was all but oblivious to anyone else in the place but Bridget and, whatever the woman was saying sounded like nothing but truth and choirs of angels where he was concerned. When the woman suggested that they return to the ship and wait for Bailey’s men as she made arrangements for the transfer of credits for the job, Sam was tempted to offer her an escort and let Wyatt and the rest get back to Roc without him. Before he could suggest it, though, he found himself backing out of the schoolhouse in the wake of Wyatt, Willow, and Wolf – his gaze loathe to break away from Bridget and a mi tian gohn eatin’ grin permanently fixed to his lips – as the schoolmarm sauntered off in her own direction.

“Ta mah duh, but I need some looser pants,” Dash groaned as Bridget faded from sight and he finally turned on his heel and broke out into a jog to catch up with the others, “or an hour or so wit’ her, one.”

“…I think we need to do as Miss Willow says and not trust her too far,” Wolf was saying when Dash caught up, “Sorry I can’t help ya more Cap’n but I never got close enough to her know her that well.”

“That’s cuz yer big, bald, an’ ugly as a mud-fence, Wolf,” Dash chided, nudging the big mechanic with an elbow as he fell into step with the rest of the crew. “B’sides, she’s been keepin’ herself fer me, anyhoo…”

“But I like gossip and rumours, Mr. Wolf!” Willow interjected playfully, though her meaning was serious. “Is Brigit from here or somewhere else? Has she always been JW’s woman, or did she work her way up the food chain? Details, my dear, details!”

Dash hooked his thumbs over his gunbelt at that point and cast a disbelieving glance from face-to-face of his crewmates. “Y’know,” he chuffed, “I conjured I were s’posed ta be th’ twitchy one ‘round here… There ain’t a damn thing wrong wit’ that woman as I c’n see…” The pilot’s footsteps faltered suddenly, again, as the distrusting conversation sparked an idea (or an excuse, depending on how one might’ve seen it), “…If’n yer all that bunched up ‘bout it, though, I reckon I’d be a’right wit’ escortin’ Miss Bridget so as ta make sure she don’t go humpin’ things up fer us.

What say, Cap? Want me ta go put an’ eyeball on ‘er?”

((OOC: Yeah, Dash’s got the full-blown hot-damns for the schoolmarm and, if no one objects too awful hard, he could be just liable to go scootin’ off to catch up with her and… er… “help her out” ))

OOC: I am going to assume that Wolf will tell everyone the rumours on Brigit that I posted in the Q&A

Rocinante, Frisco Landing Pad, 12:40 PM RST
“No need to apologize, miss,” Asher said confidently, trying to act all smooth like the Captain. “I ain’t the captain… he’ll be back soon though, if ya want to wait around for him.” He paused for a moment, mesmerized by the woman’s eyes, before adding, “You can wait in here, if ya like. I’m sure Ma wouldn’t mind."

The young lady looks behind her and then come into the ship. She smiles sweetly at Asher, ‘Thank you sir for being so obliging, Truth is, I best be … AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

She screams in pure terror. Asher looks around to see that Trish has come into the cargo bay with Bessy in hand – no doubt responding in caution to his call before. However in the action of pumping the pick shotgun, the hood around Trish’s face has slipped, allowing the young girl to see the damage done. Asher and the crew were long used to Trish’s condition and didn’t pay mind to it, but to this young girl it was more than she could take.

Outside School House, Frisco, 12:15 PM RST
Brigit finished closing up the school house and called over to your group, “Oh Captain Wyatt? Perhaps you could lend me your right hand man here, “ She said strolling up next to Sam Dash and linking arms with him. “Frisco is a desperately lawless place and a woman can never be too careful. Sides, that way Sam here can make sure the transfer is on the up and up and I can feel safe with such a well armed man protecting me.” She said sweetly while looking very helpless and frail before the captain. “I promise to give him back in one piece Captain, and I’m sure Wolf here is dying to see them there engines of yours and I’m sure that you and Miss Willow here would appreciate the alone time.”

“Honestly Cap’n, most of what I know of her is maybe gossip and rumors. She's JW's fiancée—make no mistake—but he travels off world a lot, and there’s talk that she's got a wandering eye. But trustworthy…?” Fenris paused for a moment. “No I think we need to do as Miss Willow says and not trust her too far. Sorry I can’t help ya more Cap’n, but I never got close enough to her know her that well.”

Wyatt acknowledged Wolf’s lopsided grin with an absent-minded nod. His thoughts were already on contingency plans in case they were double-crossed, the method of getting Rocinante and his crew off-world, and how in the bloody hell they’d manage to run the gauntlet again.

“That’s cuz yer big, bald, an’ ugly as a mud-fence, Wolf,” Dash chided, nudging the big mechanic with an elbow as he fell into step with the rest of the crew. “B’sides, she’s been keepin’ herself fer me, anyhoo…”

“But I like gossip and rumours, Mr. Wolf!” Willow interjected playfully, though her meaning was serious. “Is Brigit from here or somewhere else? Has she always been JW’s woman, or did she work her way up the food chain? Details, my dear, details!”

Wyatt remained silent still as Wolf began to relate that Brigit was not a local, but came from off world less than a year ago. She managed to attach herself to JW McClarrin, the mine's owner, within a few months and was soon tossing about that she was his fiancée. JW ain't denying things but he is off world himself a whole lot because he's a member of parliament. She seems to know everyone and everyone's business. She can play the weak and helpless but then again, there was that time that that Ludlow fellow was coming on strong and she face-planted him with some fancy moves.

Fenris continued by relating that some think she ain’t exactly the faithful type either—with a real weakness towards the bad type. He ain't talking the wearing black bad boys either, but the real rough and tumble baddies than infest these lawless places like Frisco. But then again, she’s the one that has been pushing JW to hire a sheriff to get some law and order in this town. So take it as you want, and remember that talk is cheap when the story is good and the target is a fine sight -prettier than most.

Dash hooked his thumbs over his gunbelt at that point and cast a disbelieving glance from face-to-face of his crewmates. “Y’know,” he chuffed, “I conjured I were s’posed ta be th’ twitchy one ‘round here… There ain’t a damn thing wrong wit’ that woman as I c’n see…” The pilot’s footsteps faltered suddenly, again, as the distrusting conversation sparked an idea (or an excuse, depending on how one might’ve seen it), “…If’n yer all that bunched up ‘bout it, though, I reckon I’d be a’right wit’ escortin’ Miss Bridget so as ta make sure she don’t go humpin’ things up fer us.

What say, Cap? Want me ta go put an’ eyeball on ‘er?”

Wyatt’s brow was furrowed beneath the brim of his hat. The news from Wolf that she’d taken a man to the ground with some fancy moves had been the major point that caught his attention. He was about to ask Fenris to verify that the man’s name had been Ludlow when Brigit called out to them and came strolling up in their wake.

“Oh Captain Wyatt? Perhaps you could lend me your right hand man here, “ She said strolling up next to Sam Dash and linking arms with him. “Frisco is a desperately lawless place and a woman can never be too careful. Sides, that way Sam here can make sure the transfer is on the up and up and I can feel safe with such a well armed man protecting me.” She said sweetly while looking very helpless and frail before the captain. “I promise to give him back in one piece Captain, and I’m sure Wolf here is dying to see them there engines of yours and I’m sure that you and Miss Willow here would appreciate the alone time.”

As Sung turned, the concern on his face washed away, replaced by his usual deadpan expression. With Willow still on his arm, he forced himself to relax a bit, but his next action was the opposite of what it would have normally been: he settled his hat low on his brow. Normally, when speaking to polite company, he tilts the hat back to show more open face, more honesty. In this case, he hoped Sam wasn’t so enamored with Brigit’s appearance that he’d miss the warning, weak as it was.

“Miss Brigit,” he said in an even tone while affecting a pleasant smile. “I’m sure that good ol’ Sam’d love to be your escort. However, we’re not planning on staying dirt-side long, so I’d need him back at Rocinante ‘fore too long.” The last was as much an addition to the warning for Sam as it was an attempt to put a timetable in place so that they’d know when to start worrying.

(OOC: Back at Rocinante…I’ll post again if I need to backpost.)

Once Rocinante was back in sight, Wyatt opened up.

“I’m supposin’ you been chewin’ on what Wolf said as much as I, Willow,” Sung maneuvered the doctor out of the way of an oblivious dockhand pushing a large load of crates towards a warehouse and redirected them towards the back hatch. “What’re the chances of that fellow she roped from Wolf’s accountin’ bein’ different than the one I ended on the comet? Ludlow ain’t exactly a common man name.”

Wyatt stopped at the back door, hand on the access panel. “Got a description of the Ludlow that Miss Brigit took down, Wolf?” Wyatt’s tone was all business now. He was putting together a conspiracy theory that topped them all. I’d thought that Ludlow was after the miner, but the Sam he was after could have been… The thought sent a shiver up his spine, but outwardly he was still calm in appearance.

Wyatt punched the access code in as the replies were given, the decompressing air sounding about them as the door swung open.

Asher smiled warmly at the young lady as she took up his offer to come wait in the ship. The Kid could tell she definitely seemed like she was runnin’ from something. And, well, Asher fancied himself a bit of a hero when it came to damsels in distress. He was certain the Cap’n wouldn’t mind much if she just hid out on the ship for a bit.

The young lady smiled sweetly at Asher, and the Kid could feel his cheeks warm. “Thank you, sir,” she started. “For being so obliging. Truth is, I best be… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!”

The young woman’s screaming caught Asher completely off guard, causing him to place his hands on his pistols as he spun around to see what the girl was screaming about.

…and there stood Ma.

So many emotions flooded the young man as he made eye contact with Trish. He felt compassion (not pity) for Ma, empathy through the piercing screams of the young lady. He was angry at the girl’s reaction, though it was tempered by understanding. He was angry at what had happened to Ma, and yet felt helpless to do anything. Part of Asher wanted to send the girl away for her reaction to his “Ma”… and part of him wanted to send Ma away.

And so, Asher stood there for a moment, giving Trish a warm smile while the girl’s screams not only pierced the air, but also his soul.

Finally, he turned back to the young lady, “Ma’am, please… calm yourself. Screaming like that’s bound to bring over some unwanted company. And that’s something neither of us wants.”

He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, “Honestly, ma’am. You’d think you’d never seen the end of a shotgun before. That there’s Ma, and she won’t hurt ya none.” He smiled back at Trish. “She’s just coming to see who’s joining us for dinner tonight.” To Trish, he said, “I think she’s fine, Ma. No worries.”

Turning back to the beautiful young lady (who’s hopefully stopped her silly screaming), Asher continued, “Ma makes a mean paste-loaf that’ll make ya think you were eating real beef.” He gave the girl a wink.

[OOC: DM can insert girl’s response. Assuming she calms down…]

With the girl a bit calmer, Asher moved to get a little more information. “Now, Miss…I don’t think I got your name. What kind of trouble would ya be in?”

Thinking back, Willow would recall that Sam had seemed at little twitchy while approaching the schoolhouse, but Willow would have reminded herself that not everyone had liked school (and students, the teachers, the coaches, groundskeepers, etc.) as much as Willow had. Sam had been far more jumpy when he’d first joined the crew and (and who among them didn’t bring ghosts onboard with their trunks and kitbags?) and in any case, this was a lawless place. Twitchy was probably just good planning.

All the same, Willow felt almost naked leaving the schoolhouse; exposed somehow as if part of her kimono had evaporated. Feeling a little self-conscious, she looked downwards over her shoulder and was relieved to see embroidered silk smoothly falling from shoulder to ankle. So why do I feel like something’s missing? she wondered, looking around. A quick glance at Sam held the answer: his eyes, normally firmly planted on her derriere when she walked, were elsewhere…back towards the schoolhouse.

She continued her conversation with the others as if she hadn’t noticed, finishing her request to Fenris for details on Brigit.

“Y’know,” Sam chuffed, “I conjured I were s’posed ta be th’ twitchy one ‘round here… There ain’t a damn thing wrong wit’ that woman as I c’n see…If’n yer all that bunched up ‘bout it, though, I reckon I’d be a’right wit’ escortin’ Miss Bridget so as ta make sure she don’t go humpin’ things up fer us. What say, Cap? Want me ta go put an’ eyeball on ‘er?”

Preachers always said that calling the devil’s name would conjure him, and sure enough, here was Brigit slinking up to them, before anyone could answer Sam.

“Oh Captain Wyatt? Perhaps you could lend me your right hand man here, “ she said …“I promise to give him back in one piece Captain, and I’m sure Wolf here is dying to see them there engines of yours and I’m sure that you and Miss Willow here would appreciate the alone time.”

Willow bit back the urge to say something pert, instead summoning the girlish giggle that Japanese women used to turn men to mush, and murmuring, “You are too considerate, Brigit-chan!” as Sung responded.

“I’m sure that good ol’ Sam’d love to be your escort. However, we’re not planning on staying dirt-side long, so I’d need him back at Rocinante ‘fore too long.”

Back outside the ship, Sung commented that it seemed like too much of a coincidence that Brigit had defended herself from a man similarly named as the one that had attacked Lullabelle Mine. “Got a description of the Ludlow that Miss Brigit took down, Wolf?”

“A wise man once said that coincidences are connections that have not been discovered,” Willow responded. “Ludlow’s not exactly ‘Smith’ or ‘Chan’. Brigit’s here for a reason, too, and we should have no desire to get caught up in it. Let me see what I can find out about her,” Willow concluded, tapping her folded fan thoughtfully against her jaw. “Besides that, shouldn’t we look for some cargo to take offside? Deadheading – I believe the term is – can be costly, hm?”

As Fenris quietly told Miss Willow all he knew of Brigit he was not surprised when she made a play for Dash.

“Oh Captain Wyatt? Perhaps you could lend me your right hand man here, “ she said …“I promise to give him back in one piece Captain, and I’m sure Wolf here is dying to see them there engines of yours and I’m sure that you and Miss Willow here would appreciate the alone time.”

He was a bit surprised when Miss Willow gave a girlish giggle and replied “You are too considerate, Brigit-chan!”

Almost as if on cue the Cap‘n responded in agreement
“I’m sure that good ol’ Sam’d love to be your escort. However, we’re not planning on staying dirt-side long, so I’d need him back at Rocinante ‘fore too long.”

It took Fenris a few moments to realize that Sung was well aware of what he had told them all about the lady Brigit, and was not placing Dash in danger but on recon duty.

Once they had returned back to the ship, Sung commented that it seemed like too much of a coincidence that Brigit had defended herself from a man similarly named as the one that had attacked Lullabelle Mine Turning to the new engineer he asked
“Got a description of the Ludlow that Miss Brigit took down, Wolf?”

“Yes sir Cap’n I will try to draw something up for you once we get inside.”

Without waiting for the ok Fenris moved into the ship, quite familiar with the design, and made his way to the galley. Once there he found a blank sheet of paper and wrote down the description on one side then on the other a rough drawing, with the word rough in highlight. With this done and the paper delivered to Sung he moved to the engines to look at his new babies.

“Yes sir Cap’n I will try to draw something up for you once we get inside.” Fenris quickly stepped too, and was gone inside before Willow had finished speaking.

“A wise man once said that coincidences are connections that have not been discovered,” Willow responded. “Ludlow’s not exactly ‘Smith’ or ‘Chan’. Brigit’s here for a reason, too, and we should have no desire to get caught up in it. Let me see what I can find out about her,” Willow concluded, tapping her folded fan thoughtfully against her jaw. “Besides that, shouldn’t we look for some cargo to take offside? Deadheading – I believe the term is – can be costly, hmm?”

Wyatt grimaced. In all of the twists and turns he’d forgotten one of the most basic things about their existence. How the gorram hell had that happened!?

“Bless ya, Willow,” he said with a shake of his head. “You keep my feet firmly placed on Rocinante’s gangplank, and I thank you for it.

“While you look into Miss Brigit, I’ll double check the usual suspects and see what I can drum up. I swear, sometimes I think I’d be Tian Di Wu Yohn (completely useless) without you here to keep my hat on for me.” The captain offered up one of his rare smiles before turning and making his way into Rocinante’s belly. Breathing in the familiar odors of oil, metal, and machine dust, the captain made his way up the stairs to the front hall, intent on achieving the bridge where he could access the Feed necessary to track down some paying work. His mind was still on the situation he’d put Sam in, the fact that Ludlow appeared to have a brother in town, and that Willow had indicated she thought Brigit was certainly in place as more than the simple school marm—something he’d deduced the instant she’d become apparent as their benefactor, though he hadn’t considered to what extent until now.

Scratching the stubble already growing on his chin he proceeded on through his ship with his head lowered in thought. If Ludlow had been after Sam Dash and not Sam the Miner had he, Wyatt, just sent Sam off to a Da Shiong La Se La Ch’wohn Tian of Ma Fuhn (Explosive diarrhea of an elephant of trouble)? Were they being played? They had, after all, ran into some serious Luck when that other Firefly had began leaking vitals just as the blockade began closin’ in.

(OOC: assuming he makes it to the bridge without interruption—if he doesn’t I’ll backpost.)

Making his way to the communications console, Wyatt dropped into the seat and pushed his hat back on his forehead. Firing up the computer he waited until he had access to the directories he needed, but just before settling in to do some digging and negotiating, he decided to take a slight detour. Wyatt Sung knew enough about computers to be dangerous…mostly to the systems. However, he could often find what he was looking for without too much help, and in this case, he wanted to see what kind of ships Brigit had access to, what this Ludlow fellow came in on, where he was staying, any additional information pertaining to the people in question; including everything possible on Brigit’s fiancé: how long he’d been gone, what was publicly known about him, what kind of vessels he had at his disposal, what kind of connection he had with the consortium, anything he could drum up. After he was satisfied that he could gather no more information on his own, he’ll turn his attention to picking up more cargo.

The young lady smiled sweetly at Asher, and the Kid could feel his cheeks warm. “Thank you, sir,” she started. “For being so obliging. Truth is, I best be… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!”

The young woman’s screaming caught Asher completely off guard, causing him to place his hands on his pistols as he spun around to see what the girl was screaming about.

…and there stood Ma.

He turned back to the young lady, “Ma’am, please… calm yourself. Screaming like that’s bound to bring over some unwanted company. And that’s something neither of us wants.”

He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, “Honestly, ma’am. You’d think you’d never seen the end of a shotgun before. That there’s Ma, and she won’t hurt ya none.” He smiled back at Trish. “She’s just coming to see who’s joining us for dinner tonight.” To Trish, he said, “I think she’s fine, Ma. No worries.”

“Ma makes a mean paste-loaf that’ll make ya think you were eating real beef.” He gave the girl a wink.

The girl stops her screaming and has the grace to look deeply embarrassed. “I am so sorry Ma’am. I just didn’t… I wasn’t expecting…I’m frightfully sorry. Please forgive me.”

Trish shoulders the shotgun and looks a warning at Asher. The kid knows the look well; she thinks the girl may be trouble and is gonna keep an eye on her. Fixing her hood again to hide her features, Trish moves back a few steps but doesn’t leave the cargo bay.

With the girl a bit calmer, Asher moved to get a little more information. “Now, Miss…I don’t think I got your name. What kind of trouble would ya be in?”

“I’m Linda. Linda Kovak. I need to get of this hunk of dirt something fierce. I have a little money saved and though it ain’t much I can work. I already work at the Lawrence Saloon so I can fix up meal and clean and the like. I just needs to be gone and soon.”

(assuming some sort of prompting as to why)

“You see, my father is aiming to marry me of to this man, a man who is a bit older than me and well, I don’t be wanting to be married just yet. I want to see the world, I want to go the core worlds and maybe one day become a famous singer and dancer maybe even an actress someday. If I do, I’d be more than willing to repay you but I need to get away from here.”

OOC: I am fighting a cold and I accidently deleted my post once tonight so I am gonna stop here and write tomorrow.

OOC:... in the girl, not the game...

“I’m Linda. Linda Kovak. I need to get of this hunk of dirt something fierce. I have a little money saved and though it ain’t much I can work. I already work at the Lawrence Saloon so I can fix up meal and clean and the like. I just needs to be gone and soon.”

”Mmm-Hmm,” was the Kid’s reply. He had grown a little cool towards the lass, and Ma’s look of ‘I smell trouble’ didn’t win Linda no credits neither. “What’s the big rush?”

“You see, my father is aiming to marry me of to this man, a man who is a bit older than me and well, I don’t be wanting to be married just yet. I want to see the world, I want to go the core worlds and maybe one day become a famous singer and dancer maybe even an actress someday. If I do, I’d be more than willing to repay you but I need to get away from here.”

As Linda was talking more, Asher felt himself distancing from her. He didn’t like her reaction to Trish. He didn’t like the fact that Trish didn’t trust Linda. He wasn’t big on Linda trying to disobey her father on something as big as skipping out on her wedding day.

Cap’n, where are you? Asher thought to himself as he looked to stall. He looked back up at Trish before replying. “Well, Miss Kovak… I doubt much we’ll be heading to the core worlds anytime soon. And the Cap’n’s kinda big on the whole ‘pay before you ride’ rule.”

He paused for a moment, feeling a bit awkward and wishing he had never invited the girl on the ship, “So, if you like, we can wait here for the Cap’n. Though, like I said, I think I know what his answer will be.”

[OOC: If Linda decides to wait on board, Asher will offer to get her sometime to drink. If she accepts, Asher will get her some water and grab a gun magazine for her to read while she waits. She’ll leave Trish in charge and he work on vehicle maintenance. If Linda chooses to leave, Asher will show her to the door.]

Heading back to Rocinante 1:00 pm
Willow, Wyatt and Wolf head back to Rocinante. As they walk the pathway back they talk about Brigit and her background and come to no real conclusion except that she probably isn’t to be trusted.

As you get closer to the place where you met the ruffians and the girl, you see and hear a Firefly approaching the landing port. Immediately you can hear sounds from the town and people start to head over. Looks like JW is finally gonna land.

You turn the bend and a young Asian man approaches you. He bows respectfully to you and offers a piece of paper to Willow, keeping his head bowed until she accepts it (I assume you will) and then once relieved of his burden, bows once more to you all and takes off northernly towards town.

Willow unwraps the paper to see a note, “Come visit the Master, when the morning might touches the temple door. We have much wisdom to share.”

By the time you make it to the port authority and Rocinante, the band has begun playing and a good crowd has gathered around the other ship. An older man, Wolf recognizes as JW, is at a podium speaking to the crowd, “I told you folk I don’t be needing this pomp and foolery. I’m still the man who likes a whiskey and a good game of cards, no parliamentary seat gonna change that. Now don’t you be worrying about the mine, we will persevere, no matter what the alliance pests think they are gonna do. Now, let me get into town, settle some business and we can all get back to business.”

As you approach your ship, a young woman comes running out the hold doorway, crying as she runs past you.

On Rocinante 1:00 pm
Cap’n, where are you? Asher thought to himself as he looked to stall. He looked back up at Trish before replying. “Well, Miss Kovak… I doubt much we’ll be heading to the core worlds anytime soon. And the Cap’n’s kinda big on the whole ‘pay before you ride’ rule.”

He paused for a moment, feeling a bit awkward and wishing he had never invited the girl on the ship, “So, if you like, we can wait here for the Cap’n. Though, like I said, I think I know what his answer will be.”

Linda smiles shyly at Asher, “I’m sorry. I have spoken out of turn haven’t I? I feel so foolish. I should never have bothered you. I saw the ship land and I got all excited like, and ..” She blushed beet red and starts to head for the doorway. “Thanks for listening to my foolishness, I won’t bother you again…” She says as her voice cracks and she starts to cry and run towards the exit to the doorway.

On the way to the Bank 1:00 pm
“So Mr. Dash is it? What’s it like flying a ship from planet to planet? Must be rather exciting?”

(assuming some conversation here)
As you talk she walks you through the nice section of town with the pretty houses and towards the back end of one of the saloons. “This is a quicker way to the bank.” She says by way of an explanation.

“Me? No much to tell. Came here a year ago or so. I’m intended to JW now; he’s the owner of the mine as well as a parliamentary seat holder. I guess I found a man that will allow me to have whatever I might need for myself in the future. Truth be told though, with him gone so much, there be many a time when I’m sorely lonely.” She stops walking, holding back a tear in her eye and then steps in very close to Sam, “You couldn’t know of the loneliness a woman feels, months without her man to hold her and make her feel wanted …needed…desired” the last word comes out as a whisper as her head tilts up towards Sam. The moment hangs there for awhile, and you can feel the heat between you and her. Then the air fills with the sound of engines, and the approaching Firefly Transport. Startled she moves a step away, as if caught by her own actions.

“Well, we best get to the bank and soon. Nora and John will no doubt want to close early to see JW arrive.”

You pass onto the open street, next to “Pat Mallory’s Saloon”. Across the street, the bank is a solid looking building or stone and brick, two stories high, sandwiched between “Lawrence’s Saloon” and “Ormond and Lovett’s General Store”. People are walking down the street in a great hurry towards the landing strip. Brigit takes you by the arm and starts to hurry across the street to the bank. “Now tell me about your Captain. He seems a very grim man, very serious and proper. You think he might be interested in a venture that might hook him some good money?”

As Sam crosses the street with Brigit, he can’t help but notice the man in shadows of the saloon, watching the bank. Mostly because he spots the other man near the other saloon, also watching the bank. Then there is the third and fourth in front of the general store, presumably looking at hickory axe handles but seemingly with a passing interest and more focus on the bank. Could be nothing, might just be four strangers watching a bank while everyone in town is heading the opposite direction.

Sam hadn’t missed Wyatt’s unspoken warning, of course, but he couldn’t quite figure it out, neither. Hell, he couldn’t figure why everyone on the ruttin’ crew seemed so put-off by this gorram gorgeous slice of schoolmarm… hints and rumors as what Wolf had seen fit to spill on the woman could easily be explained away as so much jealousy, after all. He was sure that there were some right fine looking females on this rock but, so far, Sam hadn’t seen one as all-fired angelic as Miss Brigit. Catty as some females get, Dash figured, ain’t no wonder there’s that kinda mi tian gohn talk ‘bout ‘er.
Still, Wyatt was the closest thing that Sam had to a trusted friend in this ‘Verse, so the warning – peculiar as it might’ve seemed – didn’t go unheeded. Yeah, Wyungsung, he chuffed inwardly even as he acknowledged Wyatt’s gesture with a faint nod of his own, Ol’ Sam’ll be sure not ta let li’l Sam get inna way, puhn yoh. Don’ you fret none.
Soon enough, Dash was bound for the bank, blissfully arm-in-arm with the heavenly Brigit. Ta mah duh, but she even smells pretty, Sam thought as his eyes roamed over the woman, This’s like ta be as close as ya ever get ta grapplin’ with someone as can hold a candle ta th’ likes o’ Miss Will, Sam-o… don’ go humpn’ it up.
“So Mr. Dash is it,” Brigit cooed as they strolled along toward the bank.

“Yes ma’am,” Dash nodded, forcibly tearing his eyes from her body and lifting them to meet her gaze, “Ya ain’t gotta call me Mister, though, bao bei. Sam’ll do… or jus’ plain’ ol’ Dash.”

“What’s it like flying a ship from planet to planet? Must be rather exciting?”

“It’s got its moments, I reckon,” Sam nodded, offering up his best ‘fly-boy smile’, “Most times, though, I don’t rekon it’s much off from any other job as a feller might get dirtside… other’n bein’ landlocked all yer gorram life an’ never gettin’ ta see the world an’ all, that is… most o’ th’ time it ain’t much more’n holdin’ th’ wheel an’ makin’ sure as not ta go bangin’ inta nuthin’ else… Cap don’ shine much ta them as go crashin’ his boat, get me?”

She had been walking them along through the nicer section of town up until this point and Sam hadn’t really noticed; when she took a turn that pointed them towards the back end of one of Frisco’s saloons, though, a slightly twitchy fluttering passed through his gut. “Where we headed, Miss Brigit,” he asked, eyes skimming the surroundings before returning to the woman.

“There’s a quicker way to the bank,” she explained simply.

He nodded, accepting that reply; “Ku.”

“So, darlin’,” he asked, ignoring the prickling on the back of his neck, “what about you? How’d you end up a schoolmarm out her on this hunk o’ dirt?”

“Me,” she replied, “Not much to tell. Came here a year ago or so. I’m intended to JW now; he’s the owner of the mine as well as a parliamentary seat holder. I guess I found a man that will allow me to have whatever I might need for myself in the future.”

Don’ give a big damn shiny ‘bout who yer intended to, sweetness, he started to think, It’s my intentions as ya should be concerned wit’. Sam’s gut flipped at the mention of JW holding a seat in Parliament , though, and, he reckoned, it was right then that his paranoia started to overrun his lust. Way ta go, ya gorram grapple monkey! Spend all that time stayin’ on th’ dodge from the purple-bellies an’ now here ya are tryin’ ta lift th’ skirt of some parliamentary poozle! Wyatt’s warning was starting to make a little more sense…

“Hell, I don’ reckon so,” he grinned back at her, still trying to calm the twitchy that he felt climbing slowly up his spine, “Ya got th’ mine an’, as I hear it, them as what sit on Parliament ain’t usually hurtin’ fer credits. Sounds’s if ya got th’ good life goin’ fer ya.”

She nodded half-heartedly before replying; “Truth be told, though, with him gone so much, there be many a time when I’m sorely lonely.”

Brigit stopped walking then, and, with a tear in her eye stepped in very close. “You couldn’t know of the loneliness a woman feels,” she almost purred…

Sam’s body started tingling from head to foot just then and, for the life of him, he couldn’t tell if it was the twitchy or the horny that was doing it. The way he reacted, though, it was the horny that had the upper hand; he nodded faintly, licking his lips and watching her mouth form the words as she continued, his arms opening a bit in hopes of accepting her against him.

“…months without her man to hold her and make her feel wanted …needed…desired” the last word came out as a whisper and her head tilted up towards him, practically begging for a taste of his lips.

“The hell I can’t,” Dash murmured, fully prepared to pull her against him and kiss her so as to make her toes curl. The heat between them was undeniable and Sam figured that, if she’d let him, he’d be apt to take her right here on this street.

That moment died an excruciating death, though, when the sound of a Firefly’s engines (burning in for the Port Authority from the sounds of it) rumbled in the air and, Brigit, wearing an expression that said ‘I just got caught with a boy in my room,’ backed away from him, leaving nothing but empty space between his arms and aterrible ache in his nethers.

“Ah,” Sam huffed under his breath as his eyes flicked skyward in search of the Firefly, “Jao gao! Nothin’ ever goes smooth!”

“Well, we best get to the bank and soon,” Brigit suggested as if she’’d already let go of that moment, “ Nora and John will no doubt want to close early to see JW arrive.”

“Yeah,” Sam nodded, deliberating whether or not driving a fist into his own crotch might not help, “I reckon so. Don’t nobody wanna miss the big-wig’s homecomin’ ta S#^*town, do they? Hell, he might be bringin’ presents!”

With a disappointed adjusting of his gunblet, Sam followed Brigit out onto the open street, his eyes ticking first to the sign that labeled the place “Pat Mallory’s Salloon,” then tracking to the general store, and, finally, the bank. The schoolmarm took hold of his arm once more and, as he was trying to pay attention to the throng of people rushing off for the landing site, started in with her small talk. “Now tell me about your Captain. He seems a very grim man, very serious and proper. You think he might be interested in a venture that might hook him some good money?”

“Wyatt,” Sam shrugged, his gaze narrowing a bit as he spotted a man standing in the shadows of Mallory’s, “ain’t much to tell, really. Been flyin’ his boat fer the past few years… know ‘im a bit better’n most might, I reckon… but like ya says, darlin’, he’s pretty grim most o’ the time an’ that’s the size o’ it. Far as work’s concerned, I figger the Cap’s always got an open ear fer opportunity, get me? Best I c’n tell ya, though, is talk ta him ‘bout it…”

Unlike the rest of the townsfolk, the guy in the shadows made no move to hurry off to the Port Authority to greet Frisco’s apparent benefactor and, as good as Brigit smelled, and felt, and looked, Dash suddenly found himself able to ignore the desperate ache in his groin in deference to thins lingerin’ lookey-lou… Wong bah duhn’s watchin’ th’ bank, aint he?
Sam’s mouth went dry and his fingers might have wiggled a little as his hand drifted towards the butt of his revolver. Following the shadow-lurker’s line of sight, the scruffy pilot happened to notice that there was another ‘stand-about Sally’ hanging around outside the other saloon… also watching the bank… and another pair of them doing a piss-poor job of pretending to look at axe handles in front of the General Store… Mebbe they’s jus’ not big fans o’ ol’ JW, he tried to tell himself even as one hand fell to rest on the Avenger’s grips, an’ would rather jus’ eyeball th’ hole where all th’ town’s money’s kept…Yeah… and I’m a registered companion!
His other hand found the small of Brigit’s back and, as his whiskey-hued eyes narrowed to slits, ticking between the obvious lingerbackers, ushered her in a more hurried fashion towards the bank. “Don’ mean ta rush ya none, Miss Brigit,” he rumbled as his thumb flipped loose the strap that kept the pistol secure in it’s holster, “but we might wanna get this transfer outta the way, right quick… I’m gettin’ the feelin’ that there’s other folks lookin’ to make a sizeable withdraw, too.”

((OOC: Okay, let’s leave it there for now… Sam’s still in the rut for Brigit, of course, but the shady-types watching the bank have set him on edge… assuming he gets Brigit into the bank before any of the ‘watchers’ make a move, Sam will 1) try to contact Wyatt (or anyone aboard Roc and ‘share his suspicions’ … “Send the Kid an’ his girlfriends, Cap… this one’s lookin’ ta be a barn-burner” and 2) if any of the ‘watchers’ appear to be heading for the bank, Dash’ll try to convince anyone inside to beat feet out the back way (protecting the innocent, you know) and maye try to play teller his own self… a couple of flashbangs and guns at the ready, of course.))

As Miss Willow, the Cap’n and he finally reached the Rocinante they all could not help but see a girl, tears in her eyes, running down the loading ramp and away from the interior of the ship. Fenris knew right away it was one of the Kovak girls, most likely Linda, as she was always looking to get off planet wanted to travel the stars be a singer or something like that she had told Fenris quite often.

As he watched her run away his heart went out to her as before he had, had word of the Rocinante coming and its need for a new engineer he too desperately wanted off this rock. Maybe later before they lifted he would talk to Wyatt about helping grant her wish, but for now his prioties were to meet the rest of the crew, check his new babies and get settled in his bunk.
There would be enough time later to talk of other things....

When the captain offered up one of his rare smiles, Willow caught her breath as the bottom of her stomach fell away. Fortunately, Sung turned away at that moment to scan his surroundings, ever on guard, so Willow could regain her composure.

“Merciful Bhudda! “ she thought to herself,” we have to get that man back among the living! He’s been bedding a ghost long enough!”

Willow shook her head at the thought, however, knowing Sung would do what he wanted, when he wanted, and trying to change that would be like trying to change an asteroid’s course. She put the moment aside and continued to walk at his side.

That’s when the young man approached them, bowing and proffering a note to Willow. She accepted it and read the brief contents as the young man left. “Looks like I have an appointment in the morning, Captain-san. I presume it will take that long to find and load cargo for our departure?”

Willow noted the other ship as she spoke, paying close mind to the man she guessed to be JW. She wanted the measure of a man that could command such attention from the townfolk, while stating that he didn’t want it. “Those best suited to power, “ she mused to herself, ”are those who least want it.”

That’s when the girl ran past, coming from the Rocinante. Willow watched her go, noting that while she was crying, she wasn’t hysterical and she appeared physically unharmed. “Asher’s breaking hearts again, “ she murmured to the captain, “how he does it while staying on board the ship is a wonder.”

Willow dismissed that matter as a curiosity, no more, and turned her attention to the question of Brigit and the upcoming meeting with the old Shepherd.

Wyatt tensed up a little as the young man rushed towards them, his eyes danced from the lad to the direction he came from, them over the surrounding cityscape. He was growing as twitchy as Sam in this town, but there was just too much weird going around for his taste, and things always came in threes.

Willow accepted a note from the young man and read the brief contents as the courier left. “Looks like I have an appointment in the morning, Captain-san. I presume it will take that long to find and load cargo for our departure?”

Sung opened his mouth to ask what the appointment entailed, but immediately closed it; he’d long ago learned not to ask Willow about her business so long as it didn’t endanger the crew, the ship, or herself.

“Yeah, Willow,” Wyatt turned back toward Rocinante and began to walk the two of them towards the ship once more. “We’ll be here a while it would seem.”

After a couple of seconds he asked Fenris a simple question: “You know who that water fountain was, an’ what business she might’ve had on my ship?”

(OOC: whatever the answer)

With a slight shake of his head, the captain continued on to Rocinante and proceeded inside. Once Rocinante was back in sight, Wyatt opened up.

“I’m supposin’ you been chewin’ on what Wolf said as much as I, Willow,” Sung maneuvered the doctor out of the way of an oblivious dockhand pushing a large load of crates towards a warehouse and redirected them towards the back hatch. “What’re the chances of that fellow she roped from Wolf’s accountin’ bein’ different than the one I ended on the comet? Ludlow ain’t exactly a common man name.”

Wyatt stopped at the back door, hand on the access panel. “Got a description of the Ludlow that Miss Brigit took down, Wolf?” Wyatt’s tone was all business now. He was putting together a conspiracy theory that topped them all. I’d thought that Ludlow was after the miner, but the Sam he was after could have been… The thought sent a shiver up his spine, but outwardly he was still calm in appearance.

Wyatt punched the access code in as the replies were given, the decompressing air sounding about them as the door swung open.

“Yes sir Cap’n I will try to draw something up for you once we get inside.” Fenris quickly stepped too, and was gone inside before Willow had finished speaking.

“A wise man once said that coincidences are connections that have not been discovered,” Willow responded. “Ludlow’s not exactly ‘Smith’ or ‘Chan’. Brigit’s here for a reason, too, and we should have no desire to get caught up in it. Let me see what I can find out about her,” Willow concluded, tapping her folded fan thoughtfully against her jaw. “Besides that, shouldn’t we look for some cargo to take offside? Deadheading – I believe the term is – can be costly, hmm?”

Wyatt grimaced. In all of the twists and turns he’d forgotten one of the most basic things about their existence. How the gorram hell had that happened!?

“Bless ya, Willow,” he said with a shake of his head. “You keep my feet firmly placed on Rocinante’s gangplank, and I thank you for it.

“While you look into Miss Brigit, I’ll double check the usual suspects and see what I can drum up. I swear, sometimes I think I’d be Tian Di Wu Yohn (completely useless) without you here to keep my hat on for me.” The captain offered up one of his rare smiles before turning and making his way into Rocinante’s belly. Breathing in the familiar odors of oil, metal, and machine dust, the captain made his way up the stairs to the front hall, intent on achieving the bridge where he could access the Feed necessary to track down some paying work. His mind was still on the situation he’d put Sam in, the fact that Ludlow appeared to have a brother in town, and that Willow had indicated she thought Brigit was certainly in place as more than the simple school marm—something he’d deduced the instant she’d become apparent as their benefactor, though he hadn’t considered to what extent until now.

Scratching the stubble already growing on his chin he proceeded on through his ship with his head lowered in thought. If Ludlow had been after Sam Dash and not Sam the Miner had he, Wyatt, just sent Sam off to a Da Shiong La Se La Ch’wohn Tian of Ma Fuhn (Explosive diarrhea of an elephant of trouble)? Were they being played? They had, after all, ran into some serious Luck when that other Firefly had began leaking vitals just as the blockade began closin’ in.

(OOC: assuming he makes it to the bridge without interruption—if he doesn’t I’ll backpost.)

Making his way to the communications console, Wyatt dropped into the seat and pushed his hat back on his forehead. Firing up the computer he waited until he had access to the directories he needed, but just before settling in to do some digging and negotiating, he decided to take a slight detour. Wyatt Sung knew enough about computers to be dangerous…mostly to the systems. However, he could often find what he was looking for without too much help, and in this case, he wanted to see what kind of ships Brigit had access to, what this Ludlow fellow came in on, where he was staying, any additional information pertaining to the people in question; including everything possible on Brigit’s fiancé: how long he’d been gone, what was publicly known about him, what kind of vessels he had at his disposal, what kind of connection he had with the consortium, anything he could drum up. After he was satisfied that he could gather no more information on his own, he’ll turn his attention to picking up more cargo.