How much for that puppy in the window?

[Anonymous]

The room was a little bland, but that was only because he hadn't lived in it yet! Alexis dropped his stuff down and turned in a full circle, taking it all in, "It is totally rad brah! I'll totally get some color in! Be wicked!"

The mention of weights totally derailed him and he whipped back to face Nathan, his face lighting up, "Dude! Awesome! I love lifting weights! Ya just need a tanning bed next brah and this would be totally perfect." He ran a hand down his torso, "I gotta keep cut, ya know brah?"

[Tally]

"Oh I know it."  He gave Alexis a friendly pat on the stomach as he slid by.  Wow, yeah.  That was rock hard.  Nathan was feeling more inadequate by the second.  Not that he was frail or weak—the weights were his actually.  He'd just never be able to bulk up like Alexis did.  Wasn't built for it.

"After all, you got a responsibility now.  You gotta keep up the crew's eye candy." Nathan motioned for Alexis to follow him and returned to the hallway.  "Oh yeah, my room's two doors that way if you ever need me.  The closest one to the bridge."

It was getting close to time.  The rest of them should be on board by now, or close to it.  Nathan got on the intercom.  "Everyone head toward the bridge.  Let's get the meet and greet out of the way before take off."

[Anonymous]

"Totally brah. I make rockin' eye candy." Alexis perked up a little, taking a little bit of hope in the fact Nathan kept touching him and called him eye candy. That was a good sign, right?

He scrambled up the ladder as Nathan made his call, loitering in the hallway, hoping he might get a glimpse of the crew. He couldn't wait to meet them all.

[Anonymous]

Arms on her knees, Travertine sat on the rusty bench and waited, trying not to look too much like a hobo. She wasn't expecting anything (what was the chance they were in range of her message?) but she really didn't want to think about trying to find another job just yet. It was too depressing. A beep from her lap told her she had a new message, and she reminded herself not to get excited. It couldn't be them, so fast... “Yes! Fuck!”

Thirty minutes! It was a forty minute walk, without luggage! She guessed it was lucky she'd been kicked out of her room this morning, so she wouldn't have to take any detours, but still. Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she leapt to her feet and pulled on the heavy rucksack next to her. She broke into a jog even as she clipped the harness securely into place, calling apologies over her shoulder when she bumped into people, or had to push through a crowd. Getting into a fight would slow her right down!

Somehow, she didn't know how, she made it to the Eastworks without incident, and she glanced down at her wrist as she jogged through the docks. Right on time. Oh, how she hoped they hadn't left early... No, there they were! Forcing her wobbly, aching legs into one last sprint, she charged for the ship.

And made it. She couldn't quite believe it. Just as she doubled over, gasping for breath, a familiar voice came onto the intercom. Leaning on the wall for support, she stumbled her way toward the bridge and stopped in the hallway when she spotted Nathan with some big guy she didn't recognise. Vision slightly hazy, throat tasting like blood, she wheezed, “You have... So little... Faith in me...”

[Rhi-Rhi]

A voice over the intercom woke Willow from her nap and, rising from a pile of blankets and frilly pillows and stuffed animals, she yawned daintily and tilted her head to listen. Meet and greet? How exciting! That must mean new friends!

Sliding out of bed, already dressed in a floor-length pink dress, Willow worked quickly to get ready for the day. There wasn't much to it; her dress was unwrinkled and her hair was perfectly in place. But as she stood peering into her full-length mirror, she couldn't help but feel that there was something missing. Hmm...she tapped her lips and gazed toward the ceiling in thought.

Oh! She knew just the thing! Humming a little tune, Willow selected a pink ribbon that matched her dress and tied her hair back. Perfect! She did a little twirl that set her skirts to spinning and, finally satisfied, she glided out of her room.

It didn't take long to get to the bridge, and when she got there, she saw that there were two new people! As Willow was new herself, she'd never met the girl, but she found her hair quite pretty. Pink was her favorite color! Well, and blue and all of the other colors, too, they were all just so lovely she couldn't choose! Smiling, Willow executed a graceful curtsy, spreading her skirts wide.

"How do you do?" she said, then straightened. "I'm Willow! I must say, you have the most lovely--oh!" Then she really got a good look at the boy and let out a delighted squeal. Turning back to the girl, she held up a finger apologetically. "I'm sorry! You really must excuse me!"

Rushing over to the boy, positively beaming, she clasped her hands in front of her. "And what is your name? You're adorable!"

[Anonymous]

Alexis didn't have much of a chance to respond to the tall, brightly colored woman. She was interesting looking and Alexis wanted to talk to her. But she arrived then. And Alexis was transfixed, eyes locked on Willow's slender frame. If he had had his tail, it would have been wagging frantically.

He flushed at her question, ducking her head and wanting nothing more in the world to make her happy, "'M like, Alexis ma'am. It's an honor to meet you. Wow, yer like a Princess!"

She was one of the special ones, the ones that called to the wolf inside him. He wanted to roll at her feet and bask in her presence. But that would be weird!

[Anonymous]

Cian wished Nathan would make up his mind.

First he was given a free day and all but banned from the ship until a non-specific 'later' and now it was rush, rush, rush back! Well. Cian would just take his time. Nathan would learn one of these days that the mage made plans as soon as he stepped off the ship. Most of those plans involved wandering around looking for something to do, but hey! Gotta give a guy some forewarning, right? Even Cian didn't know what mischief he'd be up to on any given day.

He was looking forward to leaving though; except for the part where he had bought a nice, purple cloak to replace his old one, the day had been rather boring. This didn't mean he was going to be rushed though! However, this didn't mean he was tarrying either. While he was sure Nathan wanted to get back all he owed the captain, the mage wasn't too sure that he wouldn't be left there to be picked up later. This found him stepping on the ship probably a tad later than Nathan would want but he was trying to make a point! Now, to find the guy and the bridge was always a good place to look.

Unfortunately, Cian hadn't gotten the message about the meeting of the new people, so he was entering in a loud way. "Nathan! You should know by now that I'm not one to be ru-" He cut off as he noticed the two new people. Yay! More people to play with! "Ah. My apologies. Cian Lucretia, explosions expert, at your service." He made a flourishing bow and came back up grinning. "So who's the fresh meat?"

[Tally]

It was getting crowded on his bridge.  He hadn't seen this much life in Diva for months.

"Hey, you made it!  You...don't look so good. Were you very far away?"  He held a hand out to Travertine just in case.  She looked like she was about to keel over.  "Haha, do you need a medic?  Sorry."

And Cian made four.  They were all assembled except for Papillion.  A dull thud rang through the ship as the docking clamps unlocked.  Time enough for quick introductions, then they had to go.

"Right, uh..." Alexis and Willow were hitting it off already.  He wasn't certain either of them would hear a word he was saying.  "Alexis over there is going to be our mechanic.  And that's Willow, she's a weapons specialist.  And Travertine..." He laid a hand on he shoulder.  "Is rejoining us as medic!"

Cian had already introduced himself, so he left them all to get acquainted while he called Papillion up over the intercom.  "Papillion, the clamps are off. Come take us up."

[Anonymous]

Still gasping for air, Travertine waved half-heartedly at the other crew members, first in greeting and then to let Willow know that she could talk to whoever she liked. It wasn't like the girl would get much conversation out of her right now anyway.

“I'm fine... I just need... A second...” she managed, standing up a little straighter in an effort to make it look like she wasn't about to die in the corridor. It probably wouldn't fill anyone else with confidence if their medic seemed to be the least healthy one among them. Swaying slightly, she pulled a bottle out of a pocket on the side of her pack and drained the whole thing, which helped somewhat.

She felt a bit better now and wiped the sweat from her brow, making a face as she rearranged her sodden hair. Introductions had been done, but she thought she should at least say something herself. With an embarrassed smile, she looked around at her new crewmates. “So, hi?”

[Anonymous]

A voice crackled out over the intercom, somewhat pouty, "Nathan! That isn't fair! You said to meet in the bridge! I went to the bridge and I wanted to meet everyone too!"

She was still going through the start up sequence, but she wasn't happy about it! So many fun new people to meet and Nathan was keeping them all to himself! MEAN!

Alexis was a little taken aback by the old man, glancing over at Nathan, then holding out a hand to Cyan, "Uh, like he said, I'm Alexis. Nice ta meet ya brah!"

[Rhi-Rhi]

Indeed, Willow didn't hear much of anything anyone else was saying. She was too focused on the adorable young wolf! Only he wasn't a wolf now; he was locked away, deep inside this form like in so many stories. Or was it the other way around? No, he was cursed, wasn't he? Like the princess that became a swan. Poor thing. But it would be okay! It always worked out in the end; he just had to find and kiss his one true love!

Reaching a hand out, she lightly stroked his cheek and laughed merrily. "Well, of course! I am a princess!"

[Anonymous]

Alexis flushed at Willow's touch, distracting him from the smelly man. She was so pretty and pure and perfect. It was hard to not just roll at her feet. Something about her just pulled at him, "Ah, well, that's totally awesome! A real princess! Cool! It's like, totally an honor!"