High to Port, Then Straight On (Pt 2)
High to Port, Then Straight On (Pt 2)
Gamily I replied, "OK, I'll bite, what's wrong with it? It took me like 3 hours to wade though all that stuff to get it right. Though for sure I'd gotten it all." She smiled, not moving at all and just patted her left breast pins. She was in drab field dress, much favoured and entirely proper dress, especially Scouts. Only then did I notice her Starburst for Extreme Heroism. Dang, I'd forgotten to work up any joint-service and expeditionary medals I had. She didn't flinch, didn't shake her head, only slid her eyes over to her cross-waist hand (by the grip), partially opening it: a glimmer of what just had to be mine I'd bet. "How did/...?" I started, but no, she ever-so slightly shook her head, glancing sidelong at Jeff-Ries, still tapping at her left lapel, which somehow... was clinking. She looked extremely innocent right then.
Jeff-Ries, straight-armed leaning on the wall, smoke in the free hand, did some scarily dextrous thing, taking off his shades, with smoke, getting a silver flask from under his left lapel, opening it, splitting the cap to be 3 shot glasses (it looked like more were still nested, he pop flipped one arnound and back), poured them so full it was amazing there was no spill, literally rolled his hand under, all one handed, to check his watch as he relit his smoke, and did a sort of "ta-dah!" move, palm flat, 3 glasses, shades perfect, wry grin with smoke at the corner of his mouth, frozen still like a Naasirka Domestibot Mk8 in serving mode. Before I could react Samualsdau swooped one up, somehow putting her arm *though* her relaxed one to do it. She paused dramatically, sighed, and spilling some took a sip of it, rather begrudgingly offered it to me as I had hesitated too long, grabbed the other with her free hand for herself, and deftly passed me the medals and some scip with it. I at least was able to pocket it without notice. Much, that is, Jeff-Ries just smiled, "Prost!"
We toasted, spilling for the passed, and Jeff-Ries somehow swiped the glasses from us, that quick. They both smiled as I hesitated having a drink before this new msytery meeting. I shrugged, maybe it was off. Frowning some, wiping his mouth with his brown leather jacket sleeve, as that was about as far as he'd go, at least on base for ackowledginghis Scout allegiance, he pulled out his flask, ostensibly to recap it but more to take a real swig peoper. Samuelsdau looked like she had a bright idea and <clink> got her flask. Guess it was that ring she wore. Herself taking a swig, she looked me over head to toe, like trying to contemplate what it was, "Yep, definitely out of uniform.", looking over to Jeff-Ries. "Oh, definitely!" he said, taking another swig and emptying his flask. He kind of frowned at it shaking it, patting himself like "Where'd I put that?" then oh snap! (he literally snapped) insta-dashed around the corner. Insta dashed like I wondered if he was on slow drug or something. He did that freeze thing, right at the corner, and right then, the brown leather scout jacket with the imperial sun patch, the black vacc body suit with rolled collar helm, holster of his older-style snub revolver with probably old school ripper nitro tranq shredder and so forth, he pulled off the dangerous sandman look pretty well, I had to admit to myself. I heard the "Vrrrr" of a grav system, which stopped suddenly. Silently, pulling some high-G flair, Jeff-Ries about flipped an Air/Raft around the corner. Silently.
He snapped it back, leaving tracking off so it drifing bumped the wall as he pushed off from it hopping out, with flourish reaching in and busting out a bottle from the wooden crate in the rear seat. It was one of the smaller Air/Rafts, the two-seater with some cargo version, but like the older earlier TL9 bulkier ones. From the sound it made bumping the wall, it was heavily armored as well, and with the wide B-Bar, probably fully encloseable. I think I'd seen something similar used as a battlefield medevac on some far off world once. He started to approach, then snapped back, getting something out of the glove compartment, muttering "Ah, here it is!" In true Vilani formal courtesy, he bowed at the waist deeply, proferring with both hands, head at just that angle that implied he had both grace and knew what he was doing.
"Courtesy of M. Chloe, who sends her regrets at this time but wishes you nothing but the best." he intoned. Properly I accepted in gracious form, "This gift is much appreciated, please be sure to send M. Chloe my wamest regards and thanks." Samuelsdau had an edge of wry smirk, having hopped up on the hood of the A/Raft kicking her feet back and forth. Either her timing was impeccable or I'd swear the was rocking it somehow. She seemed half charmed, and half put out by the observer obligations of such an occurence.
Chloe, I thought. It had been ages since we'd seen each other. Typical of her to suprise me like this, and I actually did warm at her thoughtfulness. But with hesitation, of course, for she was dangerously brilliant, and anything, everything she does has layers and depths to it. Profound, that's Chloe all right, to a T. The package was artfully wrapped, I'd have to be sure to save it, quite amazing well, it wasn't exactly paper, glittery and muted, beautiful artwork on it. I holoed it with my watch, knowing Chloe she probably would chide me for being a rube if I didn't figure out that puzzle. Now, women who confound you with art, there are worse things! I laughed as I tore it open, whatever has she done? What is it? Samuelsdau looked abit taken aback, the impulsiveness and tearing of the package is considered a faux-pas, one is supposed to open it carefully and preserve the wrapping. Catching her eye I laughed more, and Jeff-Ries chuckled as well. I still had the scar from Chloes lesson on that particular formality.
It was a flask! Heavy, silver, or perhaps platinum, maybe pewter proper. Embossed, engraved, etched, holo-patterned, with some just amazing jasper, actually it seemed harder than jasper, Scout's Starburst, only not appliqued and assembled, a single round gemstone with the proper burst, with just some fascinating transition to a clear-to-green-to-blue "background". I never knew such things existed, and that's saying something from a Scout. Involuntarily I whipsered, "How touching.." Jeff-Ries rescued me from my wonder, grabbing a couple bottles from the crate and casually proffering them, necks crossed one-handed with his fingers as he took a drag on his smoke with the other free hand. "These?" he hefted them, "From us." Nodding at Samueldau as she kind of sat up and grinned, nodding herself at me. "Wow, thanks. Seriously!" I paused, reflecting. Getting a little encumbered what with packaging, flask, bottles, pins, notes and whatnot. I stood up straight, suprising them both by hooking the bottles on my holster belt back loop, the packaging in the old-style sporran/hip ammo pouch, the flask in the standard left breast pocket, thinking to myself so *that's* what that pocket was for, suprised it took me this long to figure it out! Adjusting my cuffs, the glimmer of the moon-sun formal cufflinks' diamonds sparkling (boy did they set me back, but it all came out even in the end), I bowed myself in respect, stating, "Please convey as well my admiration as to the thoughtfulness of her kindness, and my intended debt in her favour."
