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Post by Buggy on Dec 2, 2015 2:23:35 GMT
"Arthur."
Winnipeg pulled up short. The docks were as always full of shouts and the whirring of machinery, but that sharp voice cut through it easily. He closed his eyes, steeling himself, then turned to face the speaker. Augustus Richmond strode toward him with his pointed face curved in the cold smile Winnipeg was so accustomed to seeing.
"Tarimas Richmond." Winnipeg inclined his head slightly. "What seems to be the trouble?"
"Oh, there's no trouble," Richmond replied. He smoothed the front of his suit as he met the captain's gaze. "But I was wondering if you could do me a *slight* favor."
Winnipeg's annoyance must have showed on his face; the council member's smile twisted into something a little more genuine.
"All right then. What is it?"
"The chieftain of the Garinti is going to be arriving in docking station 17E in thirty minutes. I was going to greet her myself, but an urgent... business opportunity has come up. Would you be so kind as to welcome her to our planet and keep her entertained for a few hours? I'll have someone to relieve you of your charge before the night is up."
Winnipeg blinked at him slowly, carefully considering the options he had. "I just got back from a week long training session with new recruits. I was looking forward to going home and taking care of some business of my own."
"Please."
Winnipeg straightened slightly. It was pointless, and he knew that.
"I'm sorry, Tarimas Richmond, but I have to respectfully decline."
He turned and started walking, tense. Waiting.
The Tarimas lowered his voice slightly. "Perhaps I should rephrase that. How would you like to go to docking station 17E in thirty minutes, greet the Garinti chieftain, and keep her suitably entertained until I send one of my people to relieve you?"
Winnipeg stopped. His fists clenched.
"I'd love to."
Richmond laughed and patted him on the back. "I knew I could count on you. Why do you even try to say no anymore?"
"It's a matter of principle."
"Mmm. Fair enough." Richmond walked past him. "Thirty minutes, Valdin, remember that!"
Winnipeg shuddered, then closed his eyes. Well. At least he had half an hour to himself. If he didn't look on the bright side of things, he was going to go crazy before too long. And he wasn't going to let them take that from him too.
With a sigh, Arthur Winnipeg turned and walked back down the docks.
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Post by Unokins on Dec 2, 2015 3:26:52 GMT
Garinti Chief Yannis reclined back in her chair. Her ship was just pulling in and she watched the hustle and bustle of the crowds below. How strange it was to see creatures that were stuck to the ground always. Though their ships intrigued her. The pristine, sleek silver and blacks and gleaming paint jobs made her own bronze and gold ship look tacky. Outdated. Unfinished and undesirable.
Her claws hands gripped the arm rest. This was not something that would stay for long.
As soon as her ship was docked, she rose, bronze tentacles glowing and hissing as she floated. Her Garinti crew saluted as she drifted past.
"Relax," she said with a wave of her hand. "Explore. Enjoy yourselves. And if you find anything interesting.... try not to forget it?"
"Yes, ma'am," was the chorus reply. Yannis smiled. They knew what she wanted.
Gracefully, she floated down to the docks. Even her hair, bright red and almost burning, swayed about her face as if she were underwater. Where was that Lit Tristii person...? He had promised to meet her, but no face she saw was familiar. Anger and disdain rose within her. Did he just... write her off? Oh, how he would regret it if that were the case.
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Post by Buggy on Dec 2, 2015 4:47:34 GMT
Winnipeg frowned at the procession of Garinti floating down from their ship- if you could call it a ship. The bronze hull was clunky and nothing like anything he'd ever manned. He hadn't seen many vessels from Zulfiqar in person, but each time it amazed him that the Garinti were able to construct ships with whatever materials they had on hand. It was impressive.
And... that must be the chieftain. Winnipeg's brows rose a little. She looked... well, intimidating. And displeased. And why did she have so many extensions on her tailpiece?
He stepped toward her hastily, trying to look pleased to see her. "Hey, I'm the reception committee for the Garinti chieftain. Richmond was going to come, but something came up and he sent me in his stead."
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Post by Unokins on Dec 3, 2015 21:46:42 GMT
Hey? Hey??? How informal. Was that how many elves greeted their leaders? She frowned, her pale eyes roving over Winnipeg like one would study a piece of meat one was selecting for dinner. She tapped her chin. At least he looked competent. And maybe a bit cute, behind those strange wire glasses.
"Something came up, did it?" Yannis asked, working that purr into her voice. Unimpressed, angry, and dangerous. Floating as she was, she did appear taller than Winnipeg, her shoulders squared, back straight, staring him down. "What in this galaxy could be more important than me?"
It was a trick questions. Nothing and no one was as important as Yannis.
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Post by Buggy on Dec 4, 2015 2:18:02 GMT
Ooh, she was angry. Winnipeg took his glasses off and coolly cleaned them on his shirt. Time to reign in his own irritation about being here. He couldn't do anything about it, so he might as well try to enjoy himself. The leader of the Garinti had to have money at least, and maybe her own idea of what a good time was.
"Tarimas Richmond has his own system of priorities. Generally business matters take precedence over other people, or any semblance of basic elven decency for that matter."
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Post by Unokins on Dec 4, 2015 3:24:15 GMT
"I can see this Tarimas is not a smart elf," Yannis stated bluntly, crossing her arms across her chest. She floated down, closer to Winnipeg's eye level. Yes, she definitely liked the shape of his jaw. "To brush me off is a very costly mistake." Carelessly, she brushed her bangs out of her face, and they floated around her head.
"Another one is impoliteness. Since I find you appealing, I will let you casualness slide. This time." A grin crept across her face, sharp teeth shining. "I am her Radiance, Centerpiece Yannis." She held out her hand, finned and sharp. "And yourself?"
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Post by Buggy on Dec 4, 2015 4:10:58 GMT
Winnipeg's brows rose. She found him appealing, huh? That might be a good thing, at least. He met her eyes and shook her hand with his own. It was a prosthetic, and not one of the natural looking ones. The fingers were as brassy as the buttons on his uniform.
"I'll make sure not to be so casual in the future, your Radiance. Captain Arthur Winnipeg, at your service."
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Post by Unokins on Dec 4, 2015 4:23:55 GMT
Yannis seemed to bloom like a flower in spring rain at the words your Radiance. "Captain Arthur Winnipeg, I will make good use of your service." She was expecting business with Richmond, and business was what she was going to get, Tarimas or not.
Sliding her hand through Winnipeg's arm, she snuggled up close to him, tentacles gracing the ground. "Tell me, what did you have in mind for serving me today?"
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Post by Buggy on Dec 4, 2015 4:44:54 GMT
Well. He hadn't expected that, but he could work with it. Winnipeg smiled a little, carefully amused at Yannis's choice to cozy up to him. Some people just had poor taste.
"Ts. Richmond's instructions were to entertain you until he can see to you himself. It was short notice, but if you like I could take you on a tour."
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Post by Unokins on Dec 5, 2015 22:22:34 GMT
Yannis tapped her chin, and then smiled. It was all teeth, and her high cheekbones lent her a startling appearance. "Why, Captain, that sounds most wonderful." Encouragingly, she nudged him forward, hoping to get out of the hustle and bustle of the docks.
"You know, I am very curious at where your Tarimas and Valdins do their laws. Would you perchance be willing to show me that?" After all, it was information she was after on this trip. And she was going to get it, especially after this slight on her person.
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Post by Buggy on Dec 5, 2015 22:36:20 GMT
Winnipeg kept his alarm from showing on his face. Yannis had a good deal of teeth, and all of them seemed more pointed than those of elves. He followed her nudges and guidance forward even as he tensed slightly. They didn't know nearly as much about Garinti as he'd like even with some on his crew. Who knew what their chief might do about being slighted?
"I don't think I have clearance to show you those areas, actually," he told her. Winnipeg was careful to keep his voice light. "They don't even let me in there."
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Post by Unokins on Dec 6, 2015 3:21:16 GMT
Yannis frowned. "Surely there are some places we can visit?" She asked as they walked down the docks. "The entire place cannot be closed to the public. What about where you work, Valdin?" She purred, gazing up at him. "Can I see what kind of offices you have? And how the Tarimas treat those who are asking for audience?"
Playfully, Yannis nudged him. "Or are you not allowed in those areas, either?"
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Post by Buggy on Dec 6, 2015 4:08:21 GMT
Winnipeg's mouth turned down in a frown and his brow furrowed. "My office is on my ship, your radiance," he said a bit stiffly. "With all due respect, I prefer the title of captain to Valdin. I've been an officer of the navy longer than I've worked for Ts. Richmond."
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Post by Unokins on Dec 6, 2015 4:24:21 GMT
"Then show me where you work on shore leave, Valdin," Yannis said, huffing slightly. What a stubborn man. She knew what she wanted to see, and he offered to show her what she wanted to see. So why was he being such a mule?
"Surely that would be acceptable? Or are you going to muster another half-truth lie for me?" Her tentacle wrapped around his waist and squeezed him in a tight hug. Another coiled around his leg and she kept her gaze forward, as if the appendages were acting on their own and she had no idea what was happening.
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Post by Buggy on Dec 6, 2015 4:39:22 GMT
Winnipeg might have been annoyed at her continued use of "Valdin" if he hadn't just had the air squeezed out of his lungs. He gasped and quickly began to fumble with the metal appendage wrapped tight around his waist, and great now there was one coiling around his leg. The captain stumbled a little.
"I can show you that office, ma'am, but would you please disengage your tentacles?" he wheezed. At least with so little air in his lungs, his irritation was less obvious.
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