Aphrodite
Cabin Boy
Madame A
Everyone has their secrets. And every secret has a price.
Posts: 5
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Post by Aphrodite on Oct 29, 2009 17:07:28 GMT -5
Aphrodite Reed stared a very long time into her imported handkerchief. It was made from some of the finest silk in the entire solar system, and cost more than some houses did.
And she had just coughed blood into it.
Annabelle had left in the morning without telling Aphrodite, ashamed by how savagely she had wounded the Madame the night previously. For the most part, she was doing it less often. However, every once in a while, Lady A paid the price for her affections.
"Lady A." The comm buzzed. Aphrodite activated it.
"Yes?" She tried not to sound pained. It was very hard.
"A massive ship has teleported just outside our no-fly zone. It is in Hart's colors and hailing us as the Plunder. Shall I allow them to dock?"
"Yes. I will be down to greet them myself."
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"Attention crew, this is your Admiral speaking." Hart said over all available channels on the ship. "In less than an hour we will be docking at the Aphrodite Arms. This sin't all shore leave. You see, one of our crew, my daughter, in fact, has been knocked up by Morgan. And here, when we get to port, the two of them are getting married."
Morgan's jaw dropped as he stared at his best friend. Hart grinned back at him.
"And if they don't like it they're getting married at shotgun-point. So sit tight and get ready for a pirate wedding. Hart, out."
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Dr. Andromeda Reyes
Sailor of the Eight Planets
Plunder's Heart Chief Medical Officer
I've given up everything for my sister once. I wouldn't test my loyalty if I were you.
Posts: 119
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Post by Dr. Andromeda Reyes on Oct 29, 2009 18:43:15 GMT -5
"She can't do this!"
Andromeda winced somewhat at the sheer volume Cassiopeia managed to tack onto that indignant screech. "As she's so very fond of reminding me," the older of the two sisters murmured, tone dry, "Josetta is a pirate. The best pirate. Which means she can do whatever she likes, whenever she wants to do it." Cassi just glared, a hint of moisture beginning to gather in her narrowed silver eyes. Andromeda frowned. "Cassi, you're pregnant. You need to think about that baby. It deserves a family, don't you think?" The elfin girl made a noise of annoyance.
"Yeah, I know, but--,"
"I thought you loved Morgan."
"I do!" "And he loves you, doesn't he?"
"Yes! No . . . Oh, I don't know what to think," she finally admitted painfully, putting her face in her hands. "Everything's been so messed up since I found out about . . ." She sighed heavily, unwilling or unable to continue along that vein. "We've barely spoken. I don't really know what he thinks about everything . . . but I do know that it's all gonna blow up in my face if Jo forces him at gunpoint to marry me!"
Andromeda sighed somewhat in sympathy, reaching over to pat her sister on the shoulder as the Plunder's Heart II began it's docking procedures. "Sweetie, I know you can't remember anything that happened after that toad dosed you, but trust me when I tell you. No man goes that berserk over a woman unless he cares about her." Cassi just frowned at her bare toes, unconvinced.
"Morgan's overprotective over everybody. And of course he didn't want me to get raped. That doesn't mean he wants to get saddled with another wife and a kid, all in one fell swoop."
"Well what he wants is irrelevant," Andromeda pronounced primly, to which Cassi gave her a black look. The older shrugged, unrepentant. "He was man enough to take you to bed. Now he'll just have to be man enough to deal with the consequences."
"Would you guys listen to yourselves?" Cassi snapped, then, motioning crazily with her arms, voice going shrill with annoyance once more. "You all sound like you just stepped out of the friggin' Dark Ages! You can't force me to get married! I'm not getting married today! I won't and that's final!"
Ten minutes later a sullen, rebellious Cassi was being escorted off the ship by Jane and Alison, arms crossed and expression fuming. Andromeda did her best to hide her smirk of amusement. A small part of her worried if Cassi's fears had any real merit, but she was mostly confident that they were groundless. While it was happening a lot faster than either of them would have liked, Andromeda was fairly certain that this would have been the eventual outcome in the end. Andromeda was positive that Morgan loved her sister. She didn't think Morgan's love of structure and order would've allowed him to keep her stuck in limbo for long.
She watched as the man in question stepped off of the ship behind Josetta, and her own smirk broke through her resolve at the highly exasperated expression on his dark face. He didn't look overly angry, though, which only seemed to confirm her theory. He did glance Cassi's way as the girl was led off in a different direction, muttering the whole way about overbearing, ridiculously unreasonable, tyrannical mothers and sisters. Andromeda could've sworn she saw him wince a little at that, maybe even a nervous clenching of his jaw, but it was gone again before she could say for sure. Back to his ever stoic, blank-faced self. Andromeda just sighed and shook her head.
After the nuptials were over, and they were locked up together in a suite somewhere, she was certain things would take their course.
Andromeda hurried after Jo and Morgan, but her steps suddenly faltered to a halt when she caught sight of the woman sauntering in their direction. Just like that, all the laughter and humor inside of her abruptly died a cold, swift death.
Madam A was approaching.
Andromeda stared at the woman with wide, wounded eyes, feeling her heart lurch in her chest. She hadn't remembered. Silly, stupid ninny that she was, Andromeda had completely forgotten about Josetta's . . . unique . . . dealings with the woman. Being married to Morgan hadn't stopped it. And as she saw Josetta stand a little straighter, her shoulders tightening, Andromeda realized with a tiny, inaudible, pained gasp that being with her wouldn't stop it either. Jo was going to have to be with Madam A for the duration of their stay. And there wasn't a damn thing that Andromeda could do about it.
Andromeda stared at her approach, wondering somewhat numbly what she was going to do. How she was going to cope. She didn't think she had Morgan's strength. She loved Josetta with everything she had, but watching her walk away with Aphrodite was going to viciously wound something inside of her that she wasn't at all sure could be healed.
Josetta started to step forward, but Madam A suddenly lifted a forestalling hand. Her beautiful face pulled into a small, secretive smile. "Ah, actually, this time I require Andromeda, Josetta."
All three of them just gaped at her for several seconds. Andromeda even more so than the others, her mouth opening somewhat with the sheer amount of shock she felt. She what?
"But . . . that's not our deal," Jo protested, tone somewhat stricken and expression much the same. Aphrodite just smiled wider.
"The deal has changed, darling."
Andromeda finally managed to recover herself, feeling her face pull into an indignant scowl. "Sorry to disappoint," she snapped out somewhat frostily, gaining the others' attention, "but I'm nobody's whore to be traded back and forth. Whatever deal you've made with Josetta, it has nothing to do with me."
Aphrodite turned her full attention on Andromeda then, and the slender doctor blinked a little. Suddenly all of her indignation seemed to disappear, leaving her feeling somewhat confused and off-center. Why had she been so angry? "I'm afraid I must insist that you come with me, doctor," the other woman purred. And Andromeda couldn't for the life of her remember why that was such an unreasonable suggestion. "Don't worry," the other continued, her tone turning softer. Seductive. "You'll be in good . . . hands."
Feeling dazed, Andromeda had already crossed the distance that separated them before she even realized what she was doing. By then, it was too late. Madam A looped an arm through hers and began leading her away down another corridor. Leaving Josetta staring after them, at a loss.
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Aphrodite
Cabin Boy
Madame A
Everyone has their secrets. And every secret has a price.
Posts: 5
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Post by Aphrodite on Oct 29, 2009 19:17:11 GMT -5
Aphrodite moved through her space station with the fluidity and grace of one who was not bleeding internally. Even though she was fairly certain she was.
"You can't do this. I'm going with you but I will not be your whore." Andromeda said. The madame stopped for a moment and caught her breath against the wall. Suddenly, walking was much more tiresome than usual. Sweat beaded at her brow, and her legs barely felt as though they could hold her. Sharp pain accompanied each breath she took.
"...Aphrodite?!"
"Alas, my farce is starting to wear thin." She replied sardonically. "I don't need your body, Doctor, I need your skill and your confidentiality. Now be a dear and help me get to my room, would you?"
"We need to get you to a hospital, not your bedroom." The doctor put an arm around Aphrodite in order to steady her, and the socialite leaned against her in return. On any other day, perhaps Aphrodite would have had an inviting comment. Right now, she was trying very hard not to pass out from the pain.
"No hospitals. I have faith in your skill, Andromeda. Now take me to my room." She used her power of suggestion yet again.
"..alright." The doctor helped her the rest of the way, to the powerful woman's quarters. Inside, there was now a surgical table and several trays filled with state-of-the-art surgical equipment.
Andi did not need to be told where to put Aphrodite. She leaned against the table before getting on it, coughing again. When she lay back, Andi could see blood trickling down her lips.
"Oh my God, who did this to you?"
"Fix me now, doctor. We can discuss this all later."
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Dr. Andromeda Reyes
Sailor of the Eight Planets
Plunder's Heart Chief Medical Officer
I've given up everything for my sister once. I wouldn't test my loyalty if I were you.
Posts: 119
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Post by Dr. Andromeda Reyes on Oct 29, 2009 19:54:56 GMT -5
Andromeda had a thousand questions she wanted to ask. A lesser person might have given in to such maddening curiosity. As always, however, the doctor in her was too strong and far too professional. Therefore she quickly scrubbed down and made sure she had everything at hand that she would need, then turned back to begin a hurried--though highly thorough--initial examination.
What she found wasn't good. "You've several broken bones, and massive internal bleeding," she pronounced, her tone caught somewhere between disbelief and horror. This kind of damage could only be caused by trauma. A lot of it. Prolonged trauma. "I'm going to have to operate." Aphrodite just nodded, the last of the color seeming to drain away before Andromeda's eyes. She was fading fast, not a good sign. "This would go better if I could call my assistant." That caused the other woman's dark eyes to snap open.
"No," she insisted firmly. And all thought of calling Katy fled Andromeda's mind. "No one else. I have faith that your skills will be more than sufficient."
A moment later and Aphrodite Reed passed out cold, from pain or shock or both. Andromeda was already administering a powerful anesthetic, however, and reaching for the myriad of tools laid out around her. Questions would have to wait. Saving Madam A's life had just taken top priority.
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Ulysses Grante
Cabin Boy
Every man has their toys. Mine just happen to be plastic, with realistic kung-fu grip.
Posts: 15
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Post by Ulysses Grante on Oct 29, 2009 20:15:55 GMT -5
Ulysses led the small procession from Ragnarok off the Plunder's Heart II, practically rubbing his hands in anticipation. Graham noticed and lifted an eyebrow, expression bland.
"This your first time at Aphrodite's?"
The dark-featured mage turned to him with a blink. "Wha? Hm-m? Oh, yeah," he confirmed with a shrug. "But that's not what I'm so excited about."
Thorn just rolled his eyes. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me." After a moment's pause he gave the smaller man a look. "Why are you so excited?"
Ulysses grinned. "There's gonna be a wedding." Thorn, Graham and Lyra all stared at him uncomprehendingly.
"And?" Thorn demanded. Ulysses just gaped at them.
"And?! It's a wedding! That means cake!" The others' expressions turned even more dry, but Ulysses refused to be deflated. "Huge, man-sized cake! I can't wait!" He gave the others a pitying look. "And they call me space-dementia'd."
Graham just sighed rather loudly, while Thorn put his face in his hands and groaned. "First time in the biggest, most extravegant whorehouse in the system, and he's more excited about wedding cake."
Uly blinked somewhat, surprised. "Biggest what?"
But then they were stepping off the landing ramp, and as his golden eyes drifted across the scenery--namely the amount of incredibly beautiful, scantily clad women walking to and fro--he stopped dead still in his tracks.
"Wuh."
Rather inarticulate, but that's about all he could muster. Thorn and Graham laughed, while Lyra just smirked good-naturedly and reached out to ruffle his hair.
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lynn
Cabin Boy
Posts: 17
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Post by lynn on Oct 29, 2009 20:36:37 GMT -5
Lynn heard the message and giggled a bit. She had sorta heard about what was going on but did her best not to pry. She did not know these people and she did not want to upset anyone by putting her nose where it didn't belong. Especially when she still had to prove herself.
She focused on the console before her learning everything she could. She had no interest in leaving the ship for the wedding. It did not concern her and she felt weddings were for loved ones. She clearly wasn't a loved one. She was just a stranger. So she tucked her feet under herself. It wasn't like she had anything to wear to a wedding anyway. She giggled again as she continued her work.
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Patches
Cabin Boy
Alien AI
A pirate ship. This is bollocks.
Posts: 19
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Post by Patches on Oct 30, 2009 1:43:38 GMT -5
"Is there a reson you're not trying to indulge your base fleshy desires with the other primates?" Came a voice through the computer terminal in front of Lynn, shortly before Patches' avatar popped into being. "My databases are incomplete on the matter but I thought that was what one did on shore leave--fill oneself with intoxicants and do things that will shame oneself in the morning."
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T.K.
Sailor of the Eight Planets
Chief Engineer
"If my Pocky is returned within the next hour, I promise you a quick death instead."
Posts: 106
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Post by T.K. on Oct 30, 2009 10:47:43 GMT -5
T.K. glanced up from his work at the announcement. He pulled out his Data-pad, checking his messages.
Almost all the Crew Chiefs had finished filing their 'shopping lists'.
The Cove was a great place when you were looking for Black Market items, but somethings were so much easier to get legitimately straight from the markets located around Aphrodite Arms.
He glanced over at Shiyounin, who had been checking through the programing of some of the new Tech they'd gotten from Vero Industries.
"That's good for now Shiyou. Go find Angel, and make sure she's ready to go. I'll meet you both at the Boarding Ramp. I need to get the last of the shopping lists."
"Fine."
T.K. watched her go, sighing after she was out of sight. He wasn't sure what was going on, but ever since Eve's attack at the Cove, she'd been snapping at him and being just plain rude to anyone who asked her to do anything.
He may need to go in and check her programing if this sort of behavior kept up. All he needed, was for her to snap at Patches, and offend the much more powerful A.I. Well, more than T.K. did on a regular basis anyway.
He set the matter of Shiyou aside as he went off to track down those who hadn't filed their lists yet. He really hoped to get most of it done before the wedding.
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lynn
Cabin Boy
Posts: 17
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Post by lynn on Oct 30, 2009 18:21:15 GMT -5
Lynn grinned at the AI "Hello Patches." She shrugged a bit "I have never been much for how did you put it? Fleshy desires? I only ever drank once and I got so sick I have not felt the need to again. Also I need to learn all I can about you." She smiled at Patches and shifted in her seat.
"I have to prove myself to the Admiral and the crew I figured this would give me a chance to catch up. Why do they call you Patches by the way? Doesn't seem fitting. Patches is a name you give a cat or a dog. Or maybe a very old run down ship that's all patched together."
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Patches
Cabin Boy
Alien AI
A pirate ship. This is bollocks.
Posts: 19
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Post by Patches on Oct 30, 2009 18:27:45 GMT -5
"I believe it is to give me a sense of humility." The AI said dismally. "Because I am so much better than other ships and unworthy of your species, I also believe they did so to bring me down to your primitive level."
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Post by Admiral Hart on Oct 30, 2009 18:32:10 GMT -5
Admiral Josetta Hart sat in the swankiest bar in the Aphrodite Arms and was getting unmercifully trashed. A half empty bottle of vodka rested on the bar next to her that she was confident had been full when she had started.
"Itsh not fair." She mumbled to herself. Aphrodite picked her always. She could handle being used to repay the debt she held. But Andi...Jo knew Andromeda very well. Sleeping with Aphrodite would make her feel guilty and probably mortified, as well as dirty and used.
This was going to be torture for her, and because of that, it was torture for Jo as well.
The most feared pirate in the solar system took a long swig on the vodka, forgetting about the pain in a deep haze of alcohol.
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lynn
Cabin Boy
Posts: 17
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Post by lynn on Oct 30, 2009 18:33:26 GMT -5
Lynn considered that and smiled "Makes sense. Makes it easier for people to relate and work with you." She poked at the console before her. "Your a pretty amazing ship. You don't mind that I just called you a ship do you?"
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Patches
Cabin Boy
Alien AI
A pirate ship. This is bollocks.
Posts: 19
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Post by Patches on Oct 30, 2009 18:38:20 GMT -5
"Why in the universe would I mind if you called me a ship? I am a ship. The greatest ship ever made by the greatest people that ever pulled themselves from the primal ooze of a life-capable world." The AI said back haughtily.
"I appreciate your reverance and persistance in your studies. If only the other engineer would be quite as appreciative of my majesty I would not have to lock him in rooms when he displeases me."
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lynn
Cabin Boy
Posts: 17
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Post by lynn on Oct 30, 2009 18:42:39 GMT -5
Lynn laughed and grinned "Well I will do my best not to displease you." She shifted "So what do you think about the crew? I am sure you hear alot so you have a good grasp of what they are like."
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Patches
Cabin Boy
Alien AI
A pirate ship. This is bollocks.
Posts: 19
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Post by Patches on Oct 30, 2009 18:45:39 GMT -5
"What I think of you primates is not important. You are my crew. I have other things I must tend to." The AI's hologram then disappeared. On the console, several files closed and several more appeared.
"These files will be more useful to you than the ones you were browsing. Do try to make more efficient use of your time."
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