MK Blitzen

A Firefly Tale

Enemy Mine Part 4

Silverhold | Barnett Silver Mines

Summary

Jagos crew goes in with a plan, what could go wrong.

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen, @Yule, @Aalakrys
“You sure that’s all you’re here for?” Kinneas asked as he stepped forward, the accusation in his question as subtle as the tilt of his head. But as the last word left his lips, a bright red dot skimmed along the man’s broad chest and instinct took over. As he lunged toward the stranger, he yelled to the others: “Get down!”

Half a second and a haphazard dogpile later, a small spot in the ground kicked up dirt where the bullet lodged itself. Kinneas looked up at it as he pushed himself back up off the stranger. It'd be a second, two tops before another shot could be fired - without bothering to aim, anyway. He had no intention of sticking around to find out, but he wouldn't leave the miners or this man behind. "Everyone - find cover!"

Serena couldn’t believe that the good-looking man attacked Jago, both of her eyes raised skyward, before looking over towards Vas. “Should we help?”

"Jago’s is a big burly man, he's got it …" Vas peeked over to make sure he indeed has the situation in hand. " … Just focus on the task at hand. Doc! You have eyes on that shooter?" The punk quietly pinged their eyes in the sky over the comms.

“But he’s so ol…” Serena started to protest, but cut herself short. Jago did not like to be reminded of the fact that he’s old, if past interactions had taught her anything. “Right. Task at hand,” Serena said under her breath, keeping her eyes on the trailer.

Jago and Kinneas scrambled for cover. "Well … that's an unexpected turn of events." Jago admitted to no one in particular.

Doc swung her rifle in a broad sweep, eye pressed firmly in the scope as she tried in vain to locate the source of the shot. "Nothin'! I got nothin'!" She whispered angrily into her earpiece as she chomped down hard on the small plastic filter of her cigarillo, searching desperately for the shooter. "Trigger happy sons of bitches" she growled to herself wondering if she brought enough pressure bandages to deal with the shitstorm they just bungled into.

A second bullet whizzed past in the dash, only noticeable from the obscenity yelp from a miner that got grazed and the little kick up on the ground. Kinneas reached out from the crates he'd been leaning against earlier and pulled the man behind them to join him and the "negotiator." The guy pressed a hand to his calf, waving off a question before it was asked as he pulled the leg of his jeans up to show the light, yet bloody graze before putting pressure on it with a questionably clean cloth he pulled from his shirt pocket.

"Either you got an ill-timed enemy seeking revenge, or the shooter isn't that good at his job." Kinneas commented to the older man with a glance to see if the others made it clear. "Really hoping for the latter."

A Firefly Tale

Since You're Here Anyway

Silverhold | Black Burrow Silver Mines

Summary

Jago gets a call with an offer he can’t say no to.

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen

The team walked silently to the outskirts of the mine, Vas taking the lead with Serena trailing behind him with the most serious walk she could muster, Jago and Enid with her shotgun bringing up the rear. The PREN device Jago wore on his hip vibrated indicating that there was a wave coming through.

Jago sighed, clicking the PREN device to accept the wave. "What's up, we're almost on site and I have to wear a suit, so warn me in advance if it's bad news."

“I request a photo because I’m positive you look absolutely dapper,” Tim replied as he opened up the fridge to scavenge. “Bonus points if it’s a bow tie. It’s not a bolero, is it? Say it’s not so.”

"I'm sorry if my outfit is not Tim approved, is there a reason you called other than to question my attire for this mission? Otherwise, I'm going to turn this off in the middle of your next sentence." Jago retorted dryly.

“Captain, if I called you each time I questioned your outfit, we’d be waving on a daily basis, but no, this isn't a social call. We were just hailed by a Mr. Alistair Revas - as in the I-have-more-credits-than- Ezra- has-dirt, Alistair Revas, the verses own Daddy Warbucks.”

"And he wants to adopt Serena?" Jago joked.

Hearing her name, Serena looked back, then stepped closer to her Onii. She adopted him.

“No, but he does want to line our pockets some.” Tim continued.

"Arrite … So what does he want?" Jago asked not knowing if he should be suspicious or not.

“Mr. Revas would prefer Kinneas comes out of that unscathed, unscratched, unharmed - it was an ‘un’ word, sounded fancy when he said it.”

"Unalive is a word." The Captain joked. "Okay, he say why?"

"No, he did not," Tim said cheekily. "I would have pressed him on it, but he started throwing numbers at me, and Jago, I'm awful fond of the numbers he was tossing."

"So he is paying us … “ Jago started.

“To get Reed off the planet," Tim finished. "Said he would prefer no harm comes to him. Physical. Legal. Otherwise. He seems to think the Sheriff has it out for Reed and is itching to get him behind bars or in a pine box. Revas for whatever reason would prefer neither. He’s wire transferred some of them beautiful numbers to get Reed off the rock when all is said and done - and will wire another half once the job’s completed. There’s a lot the Veil can do with that kind of money.”

"All right, we're already extracting one so grabbing another in the same place I think keeps it simple."

“Well, except we’re not giving Barnet a ride. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure the cabin’s cleaned up, put down some fresh linens, I know how you love company on board the ship. Should I make anything special for supper?”

"If we manage to pull this off without getting ventilated? I'm sure no one will complain about something with fresh fruit or vegetables." You could only do so much with flavored protein paste.

"Apples!" Vas chimed.

"Only if you don't stab no one you're not supposed to." Jago snorted.

"Write me a list." Vas snarked back.

“Red Apples!” Serena clarified.

“Fruits, vegetables, band-aids. Got it.” Tim chuckled. “I’ll leave the porch light on. The Veil’s set to go in case anything goes sideways!”

"Hopefully we won't need it. Just in case, keep the door shut just in case, small-town, riots … I don't want no one storming the boat if things do go sideways. Can't have them damaging my ship. I'll call you with an update after." Jago nodded.

“Best of luck,” Tim chuckled. “I’ll expect you coming in hot.”

A Firefly Tale

Merc Hair, Don't Care

Silverhold | Barnett Silver Mines

Summary

The Crew now set firmly on the ground they head into town to get the latest update on the situation.

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen, @Yule

Tim stayed with the ship. Tim always stayed with the ship, but then again, Serena had seen Tim in a fight, and his way of fighting was mostly covering his face and trying not to get hit, so maybe, she thought, that was for the best. “Gun check, mask check, gun check, mask check, gun check,” she said under her breath as her boots scuffled along in the dust.

Dust was everywhere on Silverhold. The hot winds blew it around, redistributing it from the makeshift street to the porches and storefronts, leaving a sepia haze over everything, that, Serena noted, make it look exceptionally old-timey.

“What are you muttering?” Vas whispered with a quirked eyebrow the duo bringing up the tail of the pack.

“Just reminding myself of what tasks are ours,” Serena replied, putting an extra step in her march to keep up with Vas.

“No, no, those were my tasks that I already did … yours was to sharpen the knives.” Vas clarified.

“I know,” Serena said. “But sharpening the knives doesn’t have a rhythm I can march to. Sharpen the knives,” she repeated, trying to take a step for each syllable, ending up taking tiny little steps. “See?”

“I have … no retort for that.” Vas admitted.

“You two divas don’t chit-chatting? Can we look like a bunch of actual Merc - Pigtail please don’t make that face you look like you need a restroom.” Jago said flatly.

“He’s not wrong.” The punk snickered. "We can work on your war face later." He said with a sympathetic pat.

Serena scowled for a moment but consoled herself by thinking it may involve war paint, and she decided she’d like hers to be in the shape of a butterfly, or maybe even a bunny! “I do look like a merc,” she insisted, showing him her one braid instead of the usual twin pigtails. “This is my merc hair.”

"Very intimidating," Doc said with a smirk as she made her way down the loading ramp at the rear of the crew. She already had her tinted goggles set firmly in place to keep out the dust as well as a small nose plug rebreather in her nostrils. To keep any crud from blowing into her mouth, she had tied a handkerchief around her neck which slung loosely at the moment so as not to get in the way of her smoking. "Well…" she gave the place a once over, "ain't this homey."

“Nothing like mercury poisoning to say welcome home …” Jago snarked. “ … Seriously don’t drink the water here.” He warned. “And you, no licking random shit,” Jago added jabbing a finger toward Serena.

“Oh stop it was one time and she's grown and learned from that! “ Vas defended.

"Stunts your growth, diminished cognitive function," Doc pondered aloud, "I'd wager she hasn't grown or learned *because* of that."

Serena would have disagreed, but she was never quite sure with the doc if she was being insulted or not. She found that sometimes, it was best to just look pensive and nod.

“Maybe we'll do a blood test … later. Just to be sure.” Vas said innocently.

"Ah, quick to give someone else the needle, eh crybaby?" Doc mockingly shook her head at Vas as she trotted up to the middle of the pack.

A Firefly Tale

Table Talk Part 3

Lunar Veil | Galley

Summary

The Skye and the crew chill out and hang expecting an easy hop to the next planet.

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen, @Yule

“It’s true,” Serena agreed with a nod. “You do not wanna go to the med bay ‘less you absolutely have to on account of it’s not safe. Everything there is sharp, pinchy, or stings.”

"Not what I was talking about …" Mathais chuckled.

"Yea we long stopped wondering how you keep doing … this … " Vas said, waving at the whole of Isaac, "... to yourself."

"Let's be honest this isn't even the worst." Mathias pointed out.

For a moment Isaac considered being offended, but then simply shrugged in agreement and prepared another cracker.

“Definitely not the worst,” Cyd added, joining the party in the galley, helping herself to the cracker Isaac had just meticulously spread peanut butter on. “Did you have Doc take a look at that hand yet?” She asked Mathias, raising an eyebrow.

"The one we just finished talking about that has nothing in her place isn't sharp, pinchy, or stings?" Mathias asked innocently.

"She only amputates when absolutely necessary," Vas assured pouring hot water into his mug to let his tea brew.

“Are we sure about that, Onii?” Serena asked warily.

"No." Vas said with a shrug.

"Oooooohhhh!" Isaac turned to Mathias, his eyes widened as he hatched what he presumed was a brilliant idea. "If she has to cut off your hand, we should totally pickle it and say it's a cursed monkey's paw and sell tickets!"

Mathias turned to Cyd. "What's safe to throw at his head."

Cyd gave her twin a wry look. “What if it makes him worse?”

"Oh, we have long passed worse." Mathias chortled.

A Firefly Tale

Familiar Faces, Going Places

The Black

Just After Noon

Vas catches up with an old friend

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen


The click of lighter and the whiff of cloves crossed Cyd’s nose. “There’s always work to do.” Vas said exhaling a puff of smoke. “Want one?” He offered.

“Ja, cuz,” the girl said with a nod, helping herself to the one the punk smoked, grabbing his wrist so he held the burning cloves as she took a long inhale. Vas looked the same as always, just maybe a little more filled out, no more scrawny street rat. He had the same babyish face which was a stark contrast to the mohawked hairstyle he favored, but, Cyd noted, it worked for him. His mocha skin was a shade darker, kissed by the sun, most likely.

She exhaled. The cloves were sweet and warm, comforting as a blanket fresh pulled from the dryer. The Lunar Veil just felt like home. Even though she knew it wasn’t a long stay, it was a welcome respite to be back in their element with like-minded skollies.

“How are you guys really though, you look … stressed.” Vas prodded. Outside of the Temple there was only Serena so having an impromptu run-in with his ‘cousins’ was often a comfort. Less reason to be on guard. More reason to relax. They were as close to family as it could get.

“More stressed than the first time we met?” Cyd teased, taking the cigarette from him for another inhale of cloves. “Long job. Merch is hot, buyer backed out, baddies closing in,” Cyd confessed with a shake of her head. “But cuz, we just got back, I don’t want to waste what time I have here being negative. I’ll figure it out. How about you, all been lekker?”

Vas snorted. “It’s all good, the job ain’t easy and I know there is hardly ever anyone to talk about the nitty-gritty with. It’s been as good as it can be, it’s been more about Serena than me but that never stops them from throwing jobs my way. At least you're not in a mask and armor every time rain or shine.” The punk smiled taking in a long drag of a new clove cig.

“No,” Cyd agreed with a chuckle, “You have a point, but at least you didn’t have to share space with Mathias and Isaac." She giggled about the close quarters. "Truth be told, I’d have gone crazy without the sibs,” Cyd admitted. “Glad you two have each other. “

"Me too but seriously who would have thunk it." Vas gave a wry smile exhaling a cloud of scented smoke. "Me with an apprentice."

“Apprentice,” she repeated with a nod and a quirked eyebrow, “Noticed she calls you onii now - that’s … new. Brother, aweh?”

Vas stiffened ear ringing pink. "It was her idea … and … just happened …" The assassin fumbled. " … It's not that big of a deal …" He said trying to minimize it.

“It’s good, it’s good,” she assured him, “I don’t usually say this,” she lowered her voice and glanced in both directions, conspiring. “We adopted one of my sibs. Shhhhhh.” She pressed a finger to her lips in an exaggerated fashion, before taking another drag. “It’s like they say - family don’t start or end in blood.”

"Mathias is adopted!" Vas joked with fake astonishment. "Can't say I'm too shocked."

“The height gives him away,” Cyd teased back.

That got a laugh out of the punk. “Well, you’re on the LV now, we got your back so that's at least one worry you don’t need to carry around. You hungry? I assure it’s nothing I cooked.” Vas assured.

“I know the sibs will be, Cuz,” Cyd said, bumping her shoulder into his arm. “I’ll catch up. Something I need to take care of first.”

"Arrite don't be too long Cuz. Tea 'ell get cold otherwise." Vas said finishing his smoke before ambling back into the galley.

“I’ll be along,” she promised. “Save me a cookie, I know you baked! The whole ship smells like warm vanilla.”

"I'll get my sword." Vas joked as turn the corner. "Fend off the black holes you call siblings." To be fair, the boys were hungry creatures. He would know he was one of them

Cyd smiled and shook her head, disappearing into the closet-sized room allotted to her for the trip. What the Lunar Veil lacked in luxury, she made up for in charm and familiarity that Cyd felt welcoming. Plus, the room decidedly did not smell like cheese puffs, dagga smoke and boy. She pulled the Personal Encyclopedia (PREN) tablet from her pocket and sat down on the bed. “Let’s hope for a good signal,” she said to no one in particular as she deleted some unneeded files from her device. “And then make a call.”

A Firefly Tale

Welcome Welcome, Aalakrys!!!

A Firefly Tale

Captain's Rules

Greenleaf | Khao Yai

Just about Noon

A rundown of what Deckard looks for when it comes to crew

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen

Secret Secret!

We're trying to keep the group small to give it the Firefly-crew-feel, but if you love Firefly like we love Firefly and would like a character, drop us a wave so we can chat. Pilot or a mechanic or any mercenary-oriented sort.

"No robots. No unattended children. No attended children. No one under the age of 18, 'cept me on account of I’m Grandfather clocked.” Serena began in a sing-song voice.

“Grandfather claused,” Jago corrected, not bothering to go into an explanation.

“Grandfather claused,” she corrected as she checked her nails. They were perhaps a bit too short from a nervous chewing habit, but nothing at all like old man claws. Jago himself wasn’t a fan of children, while he didn’t actively dislike them, he actively disliked being around them, but Serena came as a package deal with Vas Jat, and he- the Captain noted - had come in useful more than once. The Captain liked Vas, and Serena desperately wanted the Captain to like her too, but truth be told, she probably sparked the no-kid rule addition to the list. “No one moonbrained,” she continued. “No Preachers unless they leave their preaching at the port. No 'fanciable folk' who act like they never stunk up a latrine.”

"Exceptions?" He quizzed, crossing his arms.

“Nuh-uh,” Serena said, wagging a finger. “Trick question. Captains don’t make exceptions. No fanciable folk at all on account of they give you a rash.” She flashed him a smile, which Jago pointedly did not return."No passengers 'less there's exo .. exe... special circumstances. No purple-bellied Alliance soldiers on account of they bring trouble. No one Tim slept with and or married in a drunken stupor on account of they bring more trouble."

"Anything else?

Serena’s white tennis shoe kicked at the ground as her face scrunched up into a frown. "No gorram pets," She recited sadness in her voice.

"That one's on you." Jago reminded her. "What kind of Sha Gwa don't know a polecat's just another name for a skunk?"

"This kind.” Serena jerked a thumb towards herself, her voice pitching in a way that made Jago’s skin crawl. “I still think the ship needs a kitten, please?”

“Add no whiners to the list,” Jago snapped, wondering what was taking Tim and the new charges so gorram long.

“And no whiners,” Serena repeated as her brow furrowed, mentally adding that to the list. Something always got added to the list when she was with Jago. Always.

A Firefly Tale

Tim Casey

______________________________________ ______________________________________ "In my defense, I was left unsupervised.” Theme Song ______________________________________

______________________________________ N A M E : Tim Casey G E N D E R : Male A G E : 31 O C C U P A T I O N : Crew A P P E A R A N C E : Tim stands 5'11 with sandy brown hair, sun kissed skin and brown eyes. He could best be described as lanky with a ‘swimmer’s physique’. He fights to keep his perpetual bed head in check, sometimes overcompensating with hair gels or spray. He’s comfortable in almost any style, as long as it’s form fitting, and in his opinion, he cleans up real nice when he gets a mind to. H O M E P L A N E T : Ariel (Tim speaks with a south-midwestern accent. S K I L L S E T : A little of this, a little of that. (Note: This is a mod-controlled character designed to fill in where/when needed) E Q U I P M E N T : His charm, his wit, his cologne and collection of hair-care products. P E R S O N A L I T Y : Tim is friendly, outgoing, and depending on who you ask, a bit of a prankster/goofball. Live, Love, Laugh is his mantra, though not in that order. He sometimes masks his feelings with humor, but he’ll be the first to offer a shoulder to cry on or some words of encouragement which may - just may - make up for the garter snake he hid in your boot earlier that day. He is an avid swimmer. Ask him about his team at the University if you want to kill a few hours. He loves to dance and would rather hit a club than a bar, that's usually where you'll find him on his downtime Tim can be a bit high strung, and often finds relief with THC, though he never smokes while flying B I O : Tim's father owned a fleet of transport ships on Ariel. He’s worked around ships his whole life, and studied business for a stint after he graduated. He spent his summers ‘building character’ by working on boats, his father insisting that he had to know each job inside and out. He learned to fly Sandfly and Sampan class ships at a young age, and was being groomed to take over the family business. Local competition as well as some poor decisions on his father's part left the company bankrupt. Tim would later find out that there were more shady dealings than he cared to shake a stick at, and while the elder Casey is well connected, he and Tim parted ways. Cut off from his income, Tim’s taken jobs as a freelancer since. He's built a rapport with Captain Deckhard and has been flying with him for some time now.

Tim Casey's Relationship Table

Jago Deckkard	He likes me, he really likes me!
Tim Casey	Yours truly, Tim Casey
Enid Prichard	Uses iodine becuase it stings and stains
Vas Jat	If he offers you a sandwich, you don't want it
Serena Jat	The kid loves my ghost stories
Kineas Reed	Sharp Shooter, Sharper dresser

Serena Jat

______________________________________ ______________________________________ "Isn't any voice I use my inside voice if we're not outdoors?" Theme Song ______________________________________

______________________________________ N A M E : Serena Jat G E N D E R : Female A G E : 16 O C C U P A T I O N : Jo Long Apprentice A P P E A R A N C E : At 5’0, shy of 100 lbs, Serena is a slip of a girl with Asian features. She has dark almond eyes and dark hair. She’s fond of wearing two pig tails which gives her the appearance of being younger than she is. She generally wears shorts or short skirts and pastel colors or oversized black T-shirts which belong to her surrogate brother. Her idea of ‘cute’ often clashes with her brothers’ ideals. H O M E P L A N E T : Space Born on a Ship S K I L L S E T : Serena has not mastered any of the five fighting styles of the Shaolin, but she does know enough to defend herself. She proclaims her fighting style is “Bunny”, which involves a lot of kicking and running. She’s been training with knives and studying tessenjutsu by watching videos. She is proficient in neither. She has a good memory for things she hears. Aside from that, being spaceborn, she makes sure to keep herself useful on a ship. E Q U I P M E N T : Chun Double knives which she is not yet proficient in, and twin tessens. P E R S O N A L I T Y : Serena is friendly and outgoing, and will talk your ear off. She'll often speak on Vas' behalf. She doesn’t filter much of what she says, and since her brain spins faster than the words come out, she’ll often talk in circles which can be misleading until you get to know her. She’s scattered, flighty and immature. She often takes things literally, and Serena has long ears - eavesdropping is more than a hobby, it's a way of life B I O : Serena was spaceborn as far as she knows, in her words “on account of I was little at the time I was born and don’t remember that part.” She doesn’t remember her family, but there are vague bits and pieces about being boarded and people being separated and it just being how it was. At 14, she met/befriended a mohawked young punk who would soon become like an older brother. She adopted him and his last name, and in turn, he introduced her to the rest of his family. Two years later, she continues to be an apprentice of sorts. Leaving the temple for real-world experience, She and her brother Vas were found by Deckard running a scam in a pit fighting ring. Their scam was caught and they got jumped. Vas was able to take care of himself, and Serena made 'fast friends' (in her opinion) with Deckard. Deckard offered them a job doing semi-honest work. They accepted. How better to see the verse?

Serena Jat's Relationship Table

Jago Deckard	"Aye Aye Captain Greybeard! I hope he didn't hear me!"
Tim Casey	"He told me a story about a ghost with a golden arm. It still haunts the ship. Beware of both."
Enid Pritchard	"Do NOT go to the med-bay, it's not safe. She'll use iodine just on account of it stings more."
Vas Jat	"Onii Onii Onii! My somebody. <3 <3 <3
Serena Jat	"Sixteen is drinking age on a lotta planets."
Kinneas Reed	"Wanna read my fanfic about Kinneas?"

Folk we run into from time to time - Cyd Skye

______________________________________ ______________________________________ "If you give a hacker a new toy,the first thing she'll do is take it apart to figure out how it works." Theme Song ______________________________________

______________________________________ N A M E : Cyd Sky G E N D E R : Female A G E : 22 O C C U P A T I O N : Hacker A P P E A R A N C E : Cyd looks every bit the free spirit she is at heart. She stands 5’5, 5’7 in heels and has long, dark ruddy hair which she dyes teal, pink, purple, or blonde (Current color: Aqua) - she likes vibrant colors that make her stand out. Like her twin, her eyes are dark blue. She is well-toned courtesy of the Skye’s nomadic lifestyle. She dresses to match her mood, everything from bright neon fringes to basic black leather, showing off her midriff more often than not. She has a kitsune tattooed on her back surrounded by cherry blossoms, the Jack of Clubs and Jack of Hearts on the back of her shoulder, and a dharma wheel on her ribs on the left side. She’s often seen wearing headphones and has an affinity for EDM. H O M E P L A N E T : Beaumonde S K I L L S E T : Hacker E Q U I P M E N T : Personal Encyclopedia, Ident Cards, Dedicated Source Box, and of course, the dongle P E R S O N A L I T Y : Energetic, free-spirited, flirty, and full of life, Cyd is friendly and outgoing. She’s quick with a story but also an active listener. She may appear to be a bit flighty except in regards to her siblings. She likes to have a good time and can often be found at ‘underground’ parties. Cyd finds lying comes naturally, it’s easier if you ‘want’ it to be the truth. She is energetic and free-spirited, she embraces rave/counterculture. She’s seen the harshness of the verse and wishes everything could be as rainbow-colored as her hair, but she also knows the cold reality that sometimes you do what you need to to get by. Family comes first, especially when they’re all you have in the verse. Cyd dresses for attention - noticing her means her brothers can slip by undetected. Cyd isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, and if she has to fight, she doesn’t fight fair. Underground parties are a must. She loves a good rave. Peace-Love-Unity-Respect. Rave on. Rave on! B I O : A thief is not the one who steals, A thief is the one who’s caught. Twins Cyd and Mathias were born in the back of a brothel in the slums of Saint-Lo on Beaumonde. The fact is they were lucky not to be tossed in the trash with uncut umbilical cords. Not long after Isaac came along and he was readily and quickly accepted in their little circle. Life was hard and the trio lived on the fringe, that is until the Silk Lady. When war broke out Saint-Lo became a hot spot. As if their lives weren't dangerous enough they found no sympathy with the warring Browncoats or alliance. Constant shootouts, and regular bombings made it a hellscape for the trio. They were ‘saved’ by the Silk Lady. She sheltered them and many other children far from the war and with her aid they were fed, healed, educated, and trained. The Silk Lady had her own agenda. A notorious thief lord, many children - including the Skye’s - spent their lives under her tutelage and were often harshly punished. Spare the rod, spoil the child. (Kneeling on broomsticks, holding heavy books in outstretched arms, your typical 1800’s fare.) They were taught English and Kimjin, Tap code they learned among themselves. They speak a dialect similar to South African. From petty crime they advanced, each developing their own set of skills, anything to please the Silk Lady and stay on her good side. The last job they ran kicked over a hornet’s nest and brought more heat than expected. The owner of that nest now calls the shots. The Skyes took to the skies where they pass themselves off as backpacking nomads. They work odd jobs. They busk. They get by. Don't worry about your stuff going missing, you don't steal from where you sleep. Plus you're on a Firefly. Your stuff is probably kak.

A Firefly Tale

>wonders where we got the giant shears?<

Firefly - Second 'Verse

So long, and thanks for all the fish…. sticks.

The Galley, Lost track of time

OOC: JP between @Winters, @MK Blitzen @Yule

---

It’s been real.

Cyd’s cortex rang just as Mathias put the first pieces of bacon in the preheating pan. He swears that keeps it from shrinking, and at the prices of actual pork bacon, there wasn’t a carnivorous soul who could blame him. Isaac salivated at the first sound of sizzling, the sweet maple scent wafting through to his nose. The youngest Skye sibling all but floated through the air with hearts on his eyes like a Saturday morning cartoon dog.

Cyd actually hoped it was one of Isaac’s female friends, even though the pit of her stomach, churning with anticipation of breakfast, she knew it wouldn’t be. Not after the last message.

You’ve been compromised. They were careful, but apparently not careful enough. Shit had gone sideways, fast, and the siblings always knew this could be a possibility, a probability, even if she hoped for a different outcome. “Whatever the ship’s vrot – ” she said half-heartedly, letting the words hang.

Mathias nodded understandably and took the frypan off the stove. It was time to go. Isaac’s bottom lip practically quivered.

“But… the bacon!” he lamented.

“I’ll miss the food too,” Mathias said, tousling the boy’s hair. Isaac playfully slapped his hands away.

The Skye’s were packed long before anyone else arrived in the galley. Cyd took one last look around the China Doll’s shuttle. It’d only been home for a few days, but it was pretty nice, she thought, while it lasted. She took the sign welcoming the crew in from the cold as a memento and made sure the dongle was safely tucked in her pocket.

Mathias nudged her shoulder and ticked his head towards the door. “Time?” He asked.

“It’s time,” she confirmed.

“Are we leaving all the fish sticks?” Isaac asked, his eyes wide.

"What are we going to do with a dozen boxes of fish sticks?" Cyd chuckled. “It's kind of like payment. We never did find anyone to take rent."

Wish you all the best, China Doll.