(no subject)

[bad_in_latin]

[ The video is blurry at first before eventually focusing in on a gentleman in suspenders and what can only be described as some kind of cowboy coat. Leather duster? Whatever. Despite the apparent old-fashioned getup, Mal looks relieved when he gets the comm to work. Feels relieved, in fact. ]

… Well. Least the comm tech’s familiar. Can’t say as I tend to send many messages out all public-like, but this seems t’be a special occasion.

[ And he is desperately grateful for that familiarity. He adjusts his suspenders a moment before putting on a neutral smile. ]

Evenin’. The name’s Malcolm Reynolds. Uh - Firefly captain. And since that likely don’t ring no bells, that’d be my spaceship. I’m guessin’ that ain’t something anyone’s seen hair nor hide of here, but I’d surely appreciate anyone who might have a thought to it. Don’t hardly seem fair for this so-called righteous governin’ force to go takin’ our property. Anyone else get stuck with that particular hand? Or any chance of there bein’ a chance it’s been stowed away somewhere hard t’find?

Because I surely get tetchy all land bound an’ all. Don’t hardly do me no favors to keep me out of the sky.

[ All neutral still - since, y’know, the government has to be listening in on this too. Wouldn’t do to advertise a break-in right up front. Just a good citizen wanting to not go crazy in a new world…

While he figures out how the hell to drop off the grid as fast as possible.

After a few choice conversations, he adds the following message: ]

Anyone know a good bar to get drunk in?

Comments

[rathercommon]

Oh - you know, I'm not actually sure. Hold on.

[ And she types a few moments, and then reports - ]

About...two hundred feet long. I don't know if that's even remotely helpful.

[bad_in_latin]

[ He seems to recognize the unit at least - kind of archaic, but he can get his head around it. ]

Serenity's larger'n that. 'bout 270 feet tail to tip, 170 across the beam, an' 75 high.

[rathercommon]

So not so large that it would be impossible to hide. If the government did have it.

[bad_in_latin]

Right. But big enough t'be unlikely all the same. Could be she ain't here.

[rathercommon]

Could be...

[ She types a little bit more, thoughtfully, frowning. ]

Yeah. I mean - I'm definitely not seeing any talk online of anything large getting hauled away from the base in Cape Canaveral. And I don't think they've really got enough room to keep something like that long-term.

[ And then she looks up - ]

And others don't tend to come with the things they own. What they've got in their pockets at the time they're ported in, yeah. But not their cars or anything of the like.

[bad_in_latin]

[ A conclusion he's arrived at himself by now. It's better this way - he's sure of it - but it stings so badly his heart hurts. ]

Seems to add up. I got my coat an' my gun an' a few plat what was in my pocket. That's it.

[rathercommon]

[ Another nod. She tilts her head to the side and says, a little dubiously: ]

The government here...They've got their own space program. They've sent imPorts up into space, as a matter of fact. If you were - you know. Helpful. If you played along. You might get a shot at that.

[ Though it's clear from her voice that she's quite certain that he won't be thrilled by that suggestion. ]

[bad_in_latin]

[ Ha. Mal, play nice with the government? He'd sooner take a walk in hell. ]

Kiss their boots for years jus' to get a few hours up there? Ain't my idea of a good deal.

[rathercommon]

[ And that gets a wry little smile from her. ]

Yeah. I thought as much. Not even space is worth kissing a bit of arse.

[ Her smile broadens. ]

Boots. Sorry. More polite.

What is it that's important to you about flying? Is it being up there, or is it freedom?

[bad_in_latin]

Six in one, half dozen in t'other.

[ Ah but that question ... He can't help but smile fondly at it. ]

Little of both. Freedom's the important bit ... but it ain't real less'n you can get out of the world.

[rathercommon]

High standards.

[ But she likes those high standards. She likes a refusal to compromise. And she wishes she could help him more with it. ]

Well - at the very least, we've got to find you a job where you're not answering to someone. What are you doing now?

[bad_in_latin]

... Uh. Already fired, I think.

[ Oh, he'd tried - a paycheck's a paycheck - but his ideologies hadn't exactly lined up. ]

[rathercommon]

[ That startles a laugh out of her. ]

You - How? How were you sacked this quickly?

[bad_in_latin]

Let's jus' say they don't appreciate their gun control spokesperson recommendin' all the ways t'get around their rules.

[rathercommon]

[ Another laugh. ]

What an amazingly bad job placement. I swear, sometimes I think that the person they've got choosing our jobs for us is some half-mad, disgruntled kid with a twisted sense of humour.

Have you got anything else lined up?

[bad_in_latin]

Glad t'know it ain't just me then.

An' ... can't say as I do. Hence me sniffin' about for work.

[rathercommon]

No, it's certainly not just you. It's absurd, some of the things they come up with. When I first arrived, I had to dress as a banana to sell these horrid chocolate-dipped bananas - eurgh. I couldn't even look at chocolate for a week after I quit that job. [ Well - ] Or at least a few days or so.

Anyway. Failing all else, I can get you a bit of temporary work at my pub till you find something better. But I'm quite certain there is something better out there. Even if it's simply driving a delivery truck.

[bad_in_latin]

[ A delivery truck. God in heaven. And yet that might be the closest thing he's going to get to something like his old life. The thought of being here for months, with a truck being the closest thing he has to Serenity ... A very real flicker of fear shows in his face for a moment. ]

Pub, huh? Where's that at? I ain't too picky right this second.

[rathercommon]

Oh -

[ She blinks at him, but answers readily. ]

It's in Heropa. Here - I'll text you the address, if you'd like. My shift starts in about twenty minutes.

[bad_in_latin]

... You want me there in twenty?

[ He won't argue, but it's a bit sudden. ]

[rathercommon]

Oh, you're free to come whenever you'd like. Just letting you know. So that you won't get there too early if you want truly excellent service. Or, I suppose, so that you can dash in and out if you want a drink without someone intensely charming and helpful and brilliant coming in and trying to meddle in your life.

[bad_in_latin]

Gimme thirty then. I reckon I need a bite to eat anyhow.

[rathercommon]

Thirty. What do you usually drink? I'll have it ready for you.

[bad_in_latin]

Any chance of gettin' some bourbon?

r u down 4 action

[rathercommon]

[ Cheerfully: ]

Easy. We've got lots of it. I'll get the good stuff for you.