Play date: March 9, 2013
Game date: April 18, EY218
Location: Vishnu system, the wreck of the Leary
Previous events: Finding jump drive parts and a survivor from the Leary
The conversation with the Steel Hummingbird's crew, Xao, and Nanda continues on the Steel Hummingbird. Rosemarie remains in her quarters and Neet and Olivia stay on the Resplendent Dragon in case any trouble shows up that needs large holes punched through it.
When Jillian brings up the idea of reuniting the Wyrms they found on the von Däniken with their brethren, Nanda's definitely in favour of this. The Leary's former crew are also offered some Clegships -- Malcolm's respect for Maurice Clegman has dropped a fair bit since he found out about his former hero's dealings with the Black rose and he's willing to let some of the ships go. Bishop brings up the existence of the Grob, calling them another friendly species though not bringing up their D'vor ship. Nanda is hesitant and perhaps overwhelmed by this outpouring of information and generosity and will have to talk about this with her captain before agreeing to anything. She claims that she'll arrange to be on the wreck of the Leary on the first and fifteenth of every month; when the Hummingbird crew shows up they can bypass the Dobbs Habitat and reach her on the wreck at a particular frequency.
The meeting completed, Nanda is left by her ship in the wreckage and the Hummingbird and Dragon leave the mangled Leary behind, finally setting a course for the planet of Shiva. The Dragon is happy about this, as it's their home base and they've all got people they're close to there.
The trip to Shiva takes nine days and passes uneventfully with the exception of Bishop getting a happy ping from the Iof on the 19th; working with Malcolm he locates them in iLanga. They really seem to be exploring those slide points!
April 27, EY 218
By the time Shiva's filling up their windows Malcolm's contusion has morphed into an angry-looking but largely painless discolouration. Jillian's arm is still a mess but she has some mobility and can painfully wriggle her fingers. It's still largely useless but at least it's improving!
Both ships decide to bypass the needless bureaucracy of The Ashram, the space station that orbits Shiva, and land at the more expensive Bhopuhr Spaceport. The Steel Hummingbird needs not just the usual fuel and life support top-up but to have general maintenance to replace worn-out parts. The jump drive parts and bits of xenotechnology fished out of the Leary are hidden in the ship's secret compartments before handing over the keys to the mechanics. Bishop does his usual magic on negotiations for the price that they pay for the services.
While all that's going on Jillian takes Xao aside and asks him if he can set up Rosemarie Laughton here. He's got enough friends and business acquaintances that this shouldn't be a problem and he agrees to do so. Jillian also asks him if he's interested in getting the crews of both ships together for a dinner along with the Dragons' significant others -- she's specifically interested in meeting his girlfriend but does her best not to be obvious about this. He'll set things up and get back to her.
The crews split up for the afternoon. Bishop heads off the Columbia House in Bhopuhr. The first one that he entered was on McNeely Station, orbiting Limbaugh in the Providence system, and the only reason that he would walk into what is basically a house of ill repute -- he's never had to pay for it in his life! -- is the reputation of its owner, Simona Ravilob. She started off as an exotic dancer in Limbaugh and got a reputation for being unlike anyone else in the universe. Words like "magical" and "transcendent" were used to describe her. She parlayed that reputed ability into a series of Columbia Houses throughout the cluster, with one in every system save iLanga and Nodapar. Ever since hearing about her Bishop has wanted to meet her. She travels from one Columbia House to another and though he's been distracted by the imminent destruction of the cluster it's time to return to important goals and meet this woman.
It's been a long time since he's been in one but the ambiance is as he remembers it, lush and exotic. Tragically, Simona isn't there, but there is a dancer on the stage that takes his breath away. She's at least as attractive as Warden Whang but where the warden keeps her sexuality in check as part of her job this Vishnan dancer can give it free reign and overwhelm everyone around her, and that she certainly does. Bishop is enthralled and when her show, which fills the room despite its afternoon timing, is over he finds out her name ("Zenaida") and approaches her. It's not surprising that she's skilled at resisting charming men given her looks and occupation but Bishop is taken aback by the vitriol in her rejection and she tears into him until he stalks out of the House.
Jillian and Volkova start off their day by going to the navigation board. There's nothing interesting as far as Jillian can see so she just pins up a few of her D'vor posters and heads off to a pilots' bar with Volkova. It's not a long walk to Dakini's Wings, located right by the spaceport, but they're barred entry, or at least Volkova is, thanks to her grubby look. Pilots' bars tend to be snobbier than, say, mechanics' bars. Jillian decides to give another bar a try rather than leaving Volkova at the door and the two of them stumble onto a dive bar called the Dirty Dog. There's no problem getting Volkova in here!
Volkova sees the looks that the customers are giving Jillian, who maintains a pitiful pose that protects her tender arm, and decides to act intimidating to preempt anything unpleasant. She takes to her task naturally while Jillian tries to find out if anyone here knows anything that seems related to the D'vor or Hoax. There aren't many pilots here but Jillian gets along with the crowd pretty well and finds out that the military's been more intrusive than usual lately, stopping ships and checking their cargo. Jillian has a sudden realization that this place is largely a criminal bar, and on examining the details of the decor thinks it may well be a Black Rose bar! She quickly orders a double to allay her nervousness.
Not surprisingly, Volkova is oblivious about the criminal feel but when an inebriated Jillian "subtly" lets on to someone she's talking to that she's Black Rose Volkova twigs to what's going on and starts acting more like how she thinks a bodyguard would act. The most intriguing piece of information that Jillian gets, from a none-too-bright Vishnan woman named Shreya whose friend is dating an officer in the navy is that the navy is on the lookout for aliens, which is a strange thing given that there are officially no aliens that humans have made contact with. There are always stories like this, but this time the navy is specifically looking for cone-shaped ships. The Wyrm ship that Jillian saw on the von Däniken platform was distinctly cone-shaped and the Iof stole that after their raid. Curious!
Jillian's unable to find out much more and Volkova helps her back to the Steel Hummingbird. Jillian does not vomit on the way back, which is something of an achievement. Back at the Hummingbird Jillian draws what she claims are black roses in her sketchbook while she and Volkova reveal what they found out. Malcolm says that he spent the day in a Piccadillian-themed tea shop unimaginatively called The Tea Shoppe, leaving out the part where he afterwards went to a bar and failed to pull. Bishop seems down but won't go into why.
April 28, EY218
Jillian wakes up with a bad taste in her mouth from drinking the day before but at least she didn't throw up and doesn't presently have a hangover. An improvement over precedence! She does, unfortunately, remember her behaviour in the Dirty Dog. She's interrupted from her inevitable agonizing over her actions by a call from Xao, who is has made reservations for that evening at the Quilted Elephant. The Resplendent Dragon's crew will all be bringing their significant others and Xao strongly hints that it's the sort of place that has a dress code.
The male crew members already have outfits that they'll be wearing that night: Bishop has his classy white suit and Malcolm digs out an elegant duster and outfit with a vest to wear underneath it. Jillian drags the still-glum Bishop to a store to help her and gets a white polka-dotted dress that -- shockingly -- shows a bit of skin. A bandage conceals her tattoo.
Volkova makes a day of getting ready. She starts by going to a beautician and going for a full treatment: manicure, pedicure, facial peeling, the works. It takes several of the staff to get her into appropriate shape in time but since she's paying they see it as a challenge instead of a hardship. This takes the bulk of her time before the dinner and digging out the grime under her nails alone almost puts the beautician to tears. She also has her makeup professionally done. She then follows directions to a very nice sari store and buys a extremely elegant sari; she needs help choosing and donning it: it's hardly the sort of thing that she has ever worn before! By the time she shows up at the ship, ready to dine, she's gone through the majority of her cash but considers it all worth it. Judging by the looks on the part of her friends they wholeheartedly agree.
They splurge on a taxi to the Quilted Elephant rather than driving in the relatively classless minibus. The Dragons are already in the lobby waiting for them. Everyone's terribly impressed by Volkova, who's changed so much to be almost unrecognizable. Xao in particular is taken by her new look and the relatively sedate comment he makes about Jillian's dress comes off as an insult in comparison.
Olivia's wearing a jacket and slacks that looks vaguely military without being overtly so and has refrained from visibly carrying any weapons. Her date, Sanajit, is dressed in a fairly traditional suit. He's ruggedly attractive and obviously works out a lot based on the fitted clothing he's wearing.
Neet looks like Xao dressed him and seems vaguely uncomfortable in his suit. His date, the pale and mousy Ashley, wears an unimpressive white dress and clings to Neets arm. She's almost 30cm shorter than Neet and the two seem opposites in every respect but their shyness.
Xao has donned a truly impressive pirate outfit that manages to fit into the Quilted Elephant's classy atmosphere. Rupa, his date, is a stereotypical Vishnan bombshell: stunningly attractive, and very curvy. She speaks slowly but is obviously a social match for Xao, which is frightening. They could be the strongest couple in the world! They could dominate the planet!
When they're seated at a large round table the order is Bishop, Olivia, Senajit, Ashley, Neet, Rupa, Xao, Jillian, Volkova, and Malcolm. It all starts off well and the food is as delicious as it should be given the price and obvious exclusivity of the place. Bishop is still feeling the sting of his rejection from the previous day and it's made worse when he sees Zenaida at another table in the restaurant, canoodling with an older and obviously wealthy sugar daddy! He's thrown and doesn't appreciate it when Olivia, who has been talking with Senajit while he stares at Zenaida, bluntly asks him if he's interested in a threesome that night with her and Senajit. Senajit's up for it, she insists. She's raised her voice to get his attention and is loud enough that everyone at the table hears her ask.
All this is too much for him and Bishop loudly replies in the negative while lurching to his feet and making a bit of a scene for such a posh restaurant. To make matters worse Zenaida sees him and titters at his act, which carries in the suddenly quiet restaurant. Bishop staggers off into the street, fuming, while Zenaida gives his table a quick appraising glance and then dismisses them with a slight rolling of the eyes and focuses on her "date".
Volkova recognizes Zenaida's mocking laugh, having been the recipient of it and more back in Walküren. She spots Zenaida, who doesn't recognize the dolled-up mechanic, and stares daggers at her. Unfortunately, this staring makes her look like she's glaring at Rupa, whom Zenaida is behind, and Xao asks her what's wrong with his girlfriend. Volkova quickly explains the situation and and they start to scheme revenge. She also brings Olivia into the conversation. Olivia seems the vengeful type, after all.
Malcolm scootches over closer to Olivia and informs her that he'd be up for a threesome with her and Senajit. She raises a finger to Volkova to take a break from plotting and talks to Senajit briefly, who gives Malcolm a once-over, and they agree. After quickly wrapping up her conversation with Volkova Olivia and her boys start to talk quietly amongst themselves, negotiating details.
At the other end of the table Jillian's been talking to Rupa and Xao and although Rupa's a very smooth operator Jillian gets the distinct impression that she's not the most ethical of people. She's a chemist for the Big Sky corporation who doesn't really seem to care about the final uses for her work are as long as it's interesting research. It turns out that Rupa and Xao met when he hit on her on the street. Jillian raises an eyebrow at Xao to let him know that she expected more of him. She ignores Xao for a minute to let him stew in her disapproval and asks Volkova what's wrong. She, too, is filled in on the Zenaida situation.
Olivia, Malcolm, and Senajit are making to leave as soon as the plates are cleared and rather than staying for dessert Jillian suggests going somewhere else for drinks. The threesome are already on their way out of the restaurant and Ashley and Neet, who have been left behind in most of the conversations, beg off. Rupa, Volkova, and Xao are up for more, though, and they head off as a foursome, or at least as a group of four people.
While everyone else wines, dines, and schemes, Bishop finds a place to dance and pick up a chick to take his mind off things but in the end decides to stay pure for Warden Whang and ends up coming back to the Steel Hummingbird alone, lonely but proud in his self-control.
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Bishop's Bedpost Notch Count: 0 (running total: 17)
Jillian's Bedpost Notch Count: 0 (and likely to stay that way)
Malcolm's Bedpost Notch Count: 2 (running total: 3)
Volkova's Bedpost Notch Count: 0 (running total: 3)