InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Shake it, baby!"

tarnished_aegis (tarnished_aegis) wrote in kings_ransom,
@ 2008-02-05 22:13:00

Monday
Who: Kesh and Serena
Where: Engine Room
When: A little before noon

Another late night brought another late morning for Kesh. Probably would be assumed that he was out brawling or otherwise out with the nightlife, but truth was a bit less exciting than that. True to his word in the galley, he did want to run out and grab a couple of things before the day long flight to Miami. Needed some beachwear, a few new books, and had a crazy itching for a Hawaiian shirt to nauseate the rest of the crew while stowed away in the dark hull of the ship. But, more than that... he was in Paris and had to see some of the sights. He'd been on his own and alone, both by choice and circumstance for so long he had come to need time apart. So he spent a good chunk of the night sight seeing and then just kicked back, relaxing in the night sky in a park. Moon moved slowly across the sky and the night life crew and wained while Kesh reveled in the serenity of it all.

He groaned when waking and looked at the clock, yup.. not that much time had passed since he came back aboard and still had quite awhile till launch. No worries though, he plopped out of his bunk and slipped on some khaki cargo shorts and the bright flowered shirt he bought the day before. He snickered a bit looking in his mirror, the shirt fit well and wasn't baggy at all... but the bright colors and tropical images served all their intended purpose. Satisfied enough with his appearance he sprawled out on his bunk to knock out a couple more chapters in his book before take off.

He nearly lost track of time but glanced at the clock before starting another chapter, bit his lip then shrugged. He set the book down, worn picture marking his place, and slipped on some sandals then headed to the engine room. After yesterday's social in the galley, he was far to curious about Monkey and her role on the ship to let another take off elude him. He had always assumed the engines ran on... well whatever. Stored energy from harvests, steam, petroleum, something... never would have guessed from a mutant. He poked his head in the engine room and looked around as his body leaned on the door frame. He smiled seeing Serena working away at something or rather. She was as gorgeous dressed to work as her casual dress earlier. More so even, or not... hard to call. He doubted the woman could look anything but amazing. Well, unless dressed as a curious and damned scientist that he and apparently Mag were so well acquainted with. He shook his head slightly, 'people here and now... not things from then.' He thought to himself and smiled warmly as he knocked on the open door.

"Need a hand... or a curious bystander to get in the way?"

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grease_monkey
2008-02-07 01:24 am UTC (link)

Serena knew she had things to do when she woke up that morning. She rose around 5 a.m. and pulled her coveralls on over a pair of briefs and a wife-beater. She pulled her hair up into a messy knot high on her head so that it wouldn't get in the way, and put a bobby pin near her bangs to keep them back. She didn't bother with make-up or anything just yet. She knew she was going to be working and didn't want to get crap on her good clothes. She had at least 7 pair of coveralls, but only because she was in them so often. That way they didn't have to be washed daily.

She didn't bother to study herself in the mirror on her way out, either. She knew she didn't look so hot in the coveralls, but she didn't have much of a choice. Grease didn't sit well with the rest of her wardrobe. She pulled on a pair of slip-on tennis shoes and headed out the door, ensuring it was locked before she headed off down the hall. She reached the control room and found that it was locked. She was the first person there that morning, but that suited her just fine. She prefered to work alone. Everyone else just seemed to get in the way.

She opened the door and stepped inside, flipping the lightswitch on. She took a deep breath, relishing the smell of the metal and grease. She looked around a moment before she opened a small door set into the floorboards. She peered down inside for a split second before she dropped down into the hole and pulled the cord on the free swining bulb haning from the ceiling. Getting to work, she began to test different controls by flipping switches and turning on different displays. She puttered around down there for a good part of the morning and waved to the various mutants who stuck their heads down to greet her.

When she was sure everything down in the hull was in good working order, she turned the light out and climbed out of the hatch, dropping the door down into place. "Good morning." She greeted the crew when she had a little more time to devote to an actual greeting. They called their own greetings back at her as she moved toward the chair she sat in while she poured her energy into the reserves. She crossed her legs and leaned back, placing her hands on a pair of orbs she'd designed herself. The orbs were made of marble and absorbed her energy into a pair of tubes that sucked up her power like a straw and deposited it into a reserve tank. It had taken a long time to discover what kind of material would hold her power, but she'd finally found it. A mix of titanium, platinum, latex and gold in varying stages of heat and layering.

She had just finished pouring her energy into the reserve tanks when Kesh knocked on the open door. She stood up and smiled at him. She had a warm and inviting smile, and she had attracted many friends and lovers with that smile. "Well, I was just finishing up. I don't have anything left to do until we take off. I could show you around, if you like, though?" She rested her hands on her hips, elbows akimbo, fingers splayed around toward her lower back. "What do you say?" She flashed another smile that touched her chocolate eyes.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-10 01:58 am UTC (link)

His curiosity about the contraption at which Serena had been toiling abated when she flashed him a smile. No doubt it had done damage to many in the past. Were she not on the ship and the reason it flew, Kesh might have accused her of being a Siren. No, nothing much Greek about her Spanish. Then again, Siren... Sirena, Sirène, Sirena, Syrena ... Serena wasn't all that far off, all in the language really. Alas, too late for caution, she had smiled again and he was intrigued and captivated. Damn, wasn't usually a sucker for a woman's charms.. sadly had little effect on him usually. But here he was...

"I'd be daft to turn you down." He smiled back and stepped from the doorway down to her. His movements as usual carried a confident ease with them. Not that he was cocky, just didn't really worry so much about most things that seem to drag others down often. "Seriously though, very much interested in learning more of this marvel that flies us about. Seems almost science fiction or fantasy you know? Course, I guess it's just time before ability catches up with imagination right?" He smiled and shrugged.

He bit his lower lip for moment after realizing he was starting to babble, then grinned a bit and opened his stance towards her. "But please, lead away Ms. Serena. I'm your tourist." Ok, so he was equally interested in learning about the mechanic before him as he was the ship.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-10 05:03 am UTC (link)

Serena laughed and shrugged when Kesh mentioned that the ship seemed like something of the science fiction or fantasy genre. In all reality, it was. Various airships had been around for ages, the 1700s actually. There was the zeppelin and the hot air balloon, and other variations of those kinds. The King's Ransom, however, was unique. While it was considered an airship, it was really a lot more like a gigantic helicopter. It had several lateral propellers that moved the ship through the air, and a rudder to steer it. The energy she supplied, powered the engines that turned the propellers. There was always a man at the wheel, guiding them toward their destination. Serena had to control the take-off and landing without the aid of rudders or propellers, however. It was all in her mind.

She laughed again when he seemed to catch himself babbling and quieted down. She waved him along. "Come on, then." She began walking him around the control room, introducing him to the various mutants who worked there and explaining the various functions of the levers, electronic displays, lights and switches. A lot of the reason for the control room was so that she could relax during flight, rather than having to concentrate on moving the ship on her own. It was why she had invented the tanks that held her energy. This way, if she wanted to take a nap, or get something to eat, she could do so without worrying about whether or not the ship would crash if she took her mind off of it.

She pointed to the trap door in the floor and told him what was down there, but didn't offer to let him go down. It was too cramped of a space, and it didn't seem worth the trouble. It was only the engine room for the engines that turned the propellers, anyway. Nothing super interesting. "So that's it. Are you more confused now than ever, or have I alleviated some of your curiosities?" She smiled and leaned a shoulder against a pillar. She was bummed that he'd come to see her here, in her work clothes, with little makeup and the hideous coveralls on. But she was determined to make the best of it, and smiled as if she didn't care about the grease stains on her clothes.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-10 04:25 pm UTC (link)

Kesh followed Serena through her tour, eyes going from her when she explained thing and then back to the gizmos and displays she was pointing out. Sure was enough stuff going on at once... honestly he would have never guessed it all was as complicated as it was, or that it took so many to run the ship. He noticed the trap door to the engines and her lack of mentioning anything bout it. Either not worth pointing out, or something she didn't want to point out. Either way, he would not press her discretion. Well not for now at least, sooner or later curiosity would get the better of him and he'd ask or poke his head in.

He did however, have to pay a bit more attention to the tanks when she pointed them out. He could feel the power radiating out from them. In as much as the smell of food might fixate others, the energy in those tanks was palatable to Kesh. He carefully lay his hand against one of the tanks, feeling the surging and pulsations within. He wasn't trying to absorb anything from it, couldn't have directly anyways... but he could still get a good feel of its essences, and in return something of it's creator. He followed her on without lingering much at the tanks, but even with his hand removed from the storage containers, he could still feel a small tingle from the contact. Incredible... all of it.

"Oh, A little bit of yes, a little bit of no." He smiled warmly to her. "She's a marvelous looking ship, quite the tribute to it's designer." His eyes fell over her again, she was gorgeous; coveralls, a small grease smudge here and there didn't seem to detract from her at all. Without thinking so much really he reached up wiped a small smudge from her cheek with a smile. He flicked his finger as he lowered his hand, the small amount of residue flying free as if it couldn't stick to him at all. "I must admit though, your tour might have peaked more curiosities than it satiated. Both of the ship and it's tour guide. " He smiled invitingly and openly, revealing his genuine interest and intrigue.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-10 07:26 pm UTC (link)

She felt a strange sensation when he reached out to wipe the smudge of grease off her cheek. She was grateful that he'd done it, as she didn't want to walk about with grease n her face, but embarassed that it was there at all at the same time. But the sensation she felt came from neither of these emotions, it was almost a tingling or electric buzz. It was strange and foreign and she was sidetracked by it for a moment.

She recovered quickly enough, however, to smile and duck her head and mutter a quick "thanks". She smiled and lifted her gaze when he began to speak again. "Well, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Whenever. Just ask." She paused just a moment. "As long as I can do the same?" Crossing her ankles as she leaned against the pillar she folded her arms under her breasts.

"I'm curious about that shield you've got surrounding you. I'm not sure I want to talk about it here, but I would like to know more about you and that power of yours." She glanced at a clock on the wall, an atomic clock that set itself to the current timezone all on its own, and saw that there were only a few minutes left before they had to take off.

"We're going to lift-off soon, if you want to stick around and watch we can head back to my room after to talk while I change?" She smiled and headed for the intercom. "Prepare for lift-off in one minute." She hoped that everyone was onboard because she didn't have time to check. And then a minute later she reached for the intercom again. "Prepare for lift-off in five, four, three, two, one." She hung up the intercom and closed her eyes, focusing all her energy on lifting the ship into the air. The ship gave a lurch and then lifted quickly into the air. The other people in the control room flipped switches and got the propellers going so that once Serena quit thinking about it, the ship would rely on the engines alone. When she was sure the engines would hold the ship, she opened her eyes and took her focus off the King's Ransom and looked at Kesh, raising a brow.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-10 10:20 pm UTC (link)

He just smiled and nodded to her thanks. He knew his touch, especially on bare skin wasn't what people expected. And Serena had noticed such. Even more fun though, when he concentrated he could pump out some more intense and interesting sensations from that shield of his. Had awed more one, but less than most might guess. Something about not getting anything out of it for himself, other than the knowledge others enjoyed it. Or course, there was always certain amount of pleasure to be taken in ... fulfilling another.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, ask what you would of me." He offered in an unusual openness as he forced a colorful shimmer across his shield. Kesh was like most mutants tended to be, reclusive and secretive. But here on the ship of only mutants, there was less reason for such behavior. And for some reason, he found himself actually wanting to know this woman and vice-versa. Part of it was the obviously the possibility of their powers playing off each other. More than that, the woman intrigued him as well.

"Ya, no... I'd love to watch.. " he paused her offer of talking while she changed threw him his thought askew. "Er what?... sure, ya." He winced to himself, way to go Don Juan. Luckily her announcement and count-down gave him pause to recover.

He stepped back when Serena started counting, wanting to give plenty of space, or whatever she needed to do her thing. His fingers wrapped around a nearby pole to brace... but it was unneeded. The life-off was nice and smooth. In fact, had he not been watching the people withing the control room, he might not have known they were casting off. But the talented delivery wasn't what captivated this thoughts, Kesh had just watched the woman move an enormous ship and yet she showed no sign of fatigue, amazing. Normally when he had to do extreme uses of his power, it took it's toll. He was lost in though about her abilities when he noticed the raised and waiting brow.

"So that's it? We're underway already?" He shrugged, " I am at your disposal Ms. Serena, unless you need a minute or something."

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grease_monkey
2008-02-11 02:44 pm UTC (link)

"Yep, that's it. Not very exciting, I know." She shrugged lightly but continuted. "Let's go, I'm alright."

Serena felt slightly drained, but not overly so. She'd been hoisting the ship into the air for several years now, and she'd gotten used to it. She just felt like she'd run a few miles. Her legs were a little wobbly, but she managed to walk alright. She couldn't help but smile as she left the control room and headed down the hall with Kesh toward her quarters. It had been rather funny to hear him stutter and trip over himself when she'd mentioned changing.

It almost made her giggle now, but she restrained herself. Surely he didn't think she was going to change right in front of him. She had a changing screen in her room that she planned to utilize. Normally she didn't have to because she didn't share her room with anyone, but she would today. She reached for the door and unlocked it before letting it swing open. She stepped inside and waited for Kesh to enter behind her before she shut the door.

"Make yourself at home." Home was a cozy little cabin. It sported a queen sized bed, some cabinets over a little kitchenette, a bathroom, a large wardrobe and a small round table with chairs and a lazyboy thrown in there somewhere. It had the same look as a hotel suite might have, just a little on the small side. She walked to the side of her bed and turned on a lamp, and then turned on another one near the lazyboy. "Can I get you anything?" After she said it, she winced. She'd forgotten that he didn't eat or drink. She felt awkward after that and wrinkled her nose, waiting for the inevitable answer.

"I'll just be a minute." She held up a finger and gaining some of her confidence back, winked at him. Heading for her bathroom she opened the door and switched on the light. She wanted to scrub the skin that hadn't been covered by her coveralls. Her shower that morning had almost been in vain, she thought, grimacing. She washed her face and neck, her hands and arms. Rinsing out her washcloth she hung it over the faucet before heading back out into the room and aiming herself toward the wardrobe. She pulled the doors open and scanned the clothes for options. She was going to be hanging out with Kesh for at least part of the day and she wanted to look nice, but she also wanted to be comfortable.

She reached for a royal blue cotton babydoll top. It had a criss-crossed bust with a plunging neckline, an empire waist and a flared torso and cap sleeves. It was comfortable, and cute. One of her favorite blouses. She pulled a pair of straight legged jeans off a hanger and made sure that the screen was in place before she began to remove her coveralls and pull on her jeans and top. "So tell me what you know about this shield of yours? When did it happen? Have you always had it or did it develop later?" She shut her wardrobe and stepped out from behind the screen.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-11 11:34 pm UTC (link)

"Exciting and interesting are not mutually inclusive" He smiled and followed behind her to her quarters, though not sure what the hidden smile on her face was from.

As the door shut behind him, Kesh suddenly realize the source of her entertainment. He had been picturing her quarters to look more like his, not an ounce of privacy to be had were there more than one in the room. Serena actually had room for a bed! His 'room' looked more like a former storage closet, very well might have been too.

He smiled softly at her offer, "No, but I appreciate the offer." He took a seat at the table, assuming to be the most social sitting situation. He looked around her quarters, still a bit stunned. "Please, take your time. I've no desire to run off." He smirked to himself, where would he run off too? They were in flight, and her quarters were far more appealing for several reasons.

His thoughts shot back to the arrangements, had to make sense. He was a stray picked up on the side, Serena a founding crew member. So her presence along with others would have been planned for from the get go. Since he had not looked in anyone else's quarters, he assumed his to be the norm. No matter, he had room to sleep and a hole big enough for his storage trunk. Didn't require much more than that. There were crew showers he could use, but didn't really accomplish anything for him.

"Well, suppose it's always been a part of me. Just a bit more dormant. I mean, never did get *hurt* as a kid. Occasional cut or bruise, but no-matter what I did there was no serious injury." He chuckled in memory, "Can't say the same for childhood friends that attempted the same stunts, they always came out worse for the wear. As I got older, it's almost like the shield had been hiding just beneath my skin and slowly pushed it's way out." Kesh's lip twinged in thought, " I guess it was early to mid teens when I really started to become this way..." He paused deciding on how much to share. "Jr. High is hard for any kid..." He let a breath, trying to let unpleasant memories escape with the exhaled air. Nope, didn't feel like getting into that. No point anyways, past is gone. " The upside though, never got beat up!"

When Serena stepped back into view, any blueness was immediately burned off like a shadow facing the sun. He smiled warmly as he stood out of habit for a woman entering. "And I thought you looked beautiful in coveralls... But please, what of yourself? When and how did you find out of yourself?"

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grease_monkey
2008-02-12 04:51 am UTC (link)

Serena adjusted her shirt and smiled at Kesh as he stood. She waved him down and moved over to the vanity. Sitting down, she ran her hands through her thick black hair. After a moment of staring at herself, she finally decided on a high ponytail. It would be easy and keep her hair out of her face. She snapped an elastic around her ponytail and pinned a few stray locks back with some bobbies.

She opened a case containing her makeup and picked out some black eyeliner. Turning back to Kesh before she began to apply the kohl, she nodded. It was interesting at what point with each different mutant their power manifested itself. Her own had come during her early teen years. She turned back to the vanity and spoke as she applied the eyliner in thick strokes to her upper eyelid. "I was about thirteen, I think. I was working on my father's rig and reached for a monkey wrench that was just out of my reach. You can imagine my shock when all of a sudden, it was in my hand." She smiled crookedly as she looked back toward him.

She had finished with the eyeliner and was working a shimmery brown eyeshadow over her lids. "I never told my dad. He still doesn't know." It had been years since she'd spoken with her father face to face. She sent him letters now and then, but there was really no way for him to get ahold of her. One of these days, she might get over herself enough to visit. "Anyway, after a while I figured out that my energy could power machinery. If I just sat in my dad's truck with him, it would run, even if the engine was back in the shop." She grinned and finished up with the eyeshadow.

She swiped on some mascara and a layer of deep red lipstick. She looked at herself in the mirror, finding herself much more presentable than she had been earlier in the day. She nodded to herself and stood up, walking over to sit in the chair across from Kesh at the table. She slung her arm over the back of the chair and crossed her legs, resting her other hand on the tabletop. "Any of your family mutants? My dad wasn't, but I think my mother was. That's why we had to leave Spain." Serena had really been too young at the time to remember, but she'd heard whispers and hushed conversations more than once to indicate that it was true.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-12 11:59 pm UTC (link)

Kesh gave a half smile as he was waved to sit back down. He was a little surprised at her response, guess he hadn't expected such a graceful and accustomed dismissal from someone whom just minutes before had been crawling around engines. Looking around her room again as Serena painted her face to a brilliant result, he couldn't help wonder what other quarters looked like. No doubt the captains was even finer. Yup, definitely nicer than his closet.

The idea of what he might have done with such ability, especially at that age, brought a grand grin to his face. "Oh, I imagine that could be the source of all sorts of mischief for a teenager. Items not quite where a teacher left them, or intolerables randomly tripping or exposing themselves." He chuckled at the idea... must have been nice to have such a gift without being ostracized like most mutants, especially ones like the Doc. Must have been real hard for the ones who stood out at a distance.

"Prompt if I am intrusive, but why never tell your parents? Not the tolerant type?" His brows lifted a bit then he shrugged as he thought about his own choice had he one. "I really don't know if I would have told mine... wasn't something that had ever been discussed previous to myself so I didn't know where they stood in regards to our type." Hindsight gave him the answer to that, and had he been able to choose; the best choice would have been to not. While the supported him and tried to help him, it was to the extent of making him 'normal' not accepting him as is. And when he disappeared, they never made attempt to contact him despite his cell and email having remained the same for years after. Then again, he never got a hold of them either.

As Serena took a seat across from him, dolled up and dressed, Kesh couldn't help but feel a little under-dressed. Obnoxious Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts seemed fitting for the destination, but not the current moment. No matter, here he was and no changing that. He turned in his chair to face her squarely, arms crossed on the table as he leaned on them some. "To the best of my knowledge, no. Not in the immediate family at lease, were there ... I imagine that there would have been fewer lab coats and equipment in my life. Although there were a few relatives I knew the names of, but were never discussed nor invited to come about. 'Course every family seems to have some of those." He shrugged before looking at her for a moment, deciding whether to ask. Ah to hell with it, nothing ventured... "What happened to her?" He asked in a smoother more somber tone, not wanting to come across as callous or cold.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-13 01:15 am UTC (link)

She laughed softly. "I was so focused on helping my dad and being a good daughter that I didn't really think about pulling pranks much. Eventually I realized what I was missing, though." She grinned and examined her fingers splayed across the tabletop. "I got into a little more trouble as I got older. It eventually led to the rift between my father and I and the reason I went a few states away to go to college."

"Well, my power didn't come to me until I was a teenager, so my mother had already passed. The only one left to tell was my father and I didn't think he would want to know that his daughter was a freak. He had enough worries with keeping food on the table and me in school. We were poor immigrants." She smiled, but it was filled with memories. Her childhood hadn't exactly been easy, but she'd had a lot of friends. Mostly because no one knew about her power and she was easy to like.

She glanced across the table at him, and noticed again the shirt that he was wearing. It was loud and colorful, and she loved it. "That's a great shirt." She grinned and looked back down at her hand. For whatever reason she was feeling unaccountably shy all of a sudden. It was strange. She was normally so outgoing and talkative, but with the handsome guy sitting across from her, in her own room, she was feeling shy.

She looked up again as he asked about her mother. "Well, from what I understand, and it isn't as if my father ever actually spoke these words to me, she was killed. I think she fell in with some mutants who used their powers to steal from people. Before she met my father she abandoned them. I guess they found her a few years after I was born. They killed her when she wouldn't join their cause again." She didn't even really remember her mother. Just her smile and her eyes in a sort of hazy memory of being tucked into bed. "I think if my dad knew I was a mutant, it would be too painful." Nevermind that she hadn't spoken to him in years.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-13 02:58 am UTC (link)

Kesh grinned, "Sounds like stories behind that mischief. Good girl gone bad" He laughed softly then shrugged a bit, "I think that's probably pretty natural and common, been the subject of a lot of writings for sure. Seems like parent and child come to see eye to eye again after due time." Of course, the endings weren't always happy. But no sense mentioning that, only wishes of fairy tales for her.

He smiled at her compliment of his shirt, then grinned when she looked down. Apparently he wasn't the only one feeling a bit unsure and a bit shy as a result. Always nice to be on equal footing and not the geeky guy in the corner with a crush on the obtainably popular prom queen. Not that the woman before him couldn't sweet any pageant with beauty and charm. He slipped his hand over to hers and lifted it to kiss the back of her fingers. The shield that hugged his skin pulsated off a warm energetic radiance both from his fingers and lips. "Two grown, capable, and confident adults... and yet we're both shy to the other, and me stumbling over myself. It's like a Jr. high dance." He couldn't help but smile at the comedy of it.

He released her hand and rested his back on the table. "There might be a bit of thievery and smidge of piracy when the Ransom comes to port. But the quality of company would never be questioned. Of all the crews I've been a part of, none have I trusted as much nor felt as at home with. " he smiled warmly and added, "And comparing the mechanics, well it's like holding a match to the sun. You're a beautiful, talented, and charming woman Ms. Serena. And I'm glad to be able to begin to know you." Shockingly to even himself, he meant every word of it. He hadn't felt such a feeling of belonging since he was a kid, before his powers alienated him. He wasn't really sure at what point his hand slid back over Serena's, he didn't remember doing such. But the tingle of telekinetic energy he felt radiating from her hand beneath his alerted him to it. Beyond her inviting smile and charisma, Serena had a very distinct aura about her that Kesh could feel, just as the one he had felt from her storage orbs.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-13 03:57 am UTC (link)

She laughed at that. "I grew up, hit puberty and a rebellious period. Most teenagers do, don't they?" She shrugged. "I dated boys my father didn't want me to. I don't think he wanted me dating any boys, to be honest. But, then I kind of had to support myself through college." She had the decency to look slightly ashamed at what she was about to tell him. "I ran a small chop shop. Disassembled cars and rebuilt them, sold their parts, whatever I had to to make a buck. It was really the only thing I was good at. Sad thing is I didn't even get to finish school."

She shruggd again and smiled softly. "I am sure that my dad will be happy to see me one of these days. Just not sure I'm up for a family reunion yet. Maybe one of these days I'll get up the nerve." She pulled her arm from over the top of the chair and leaned on her elbows. She was surprised when he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, and it made one corner of her mouth curve up in a smile. She ducked her head slightly, but tilted it so she could still peer at him.

She had to laugh at the accurate way he described the situation. "Yeah, it is kind of wierd, huh?" Her Spanish accent caught up with her sometimes, and usually when she was flustered. While it was always there, lacing each of her words, it became more prominent now. When her hand was released, she looked at it. The sensation of his lips and fingers on her skin was different. Not unpleasant, just different. A warmth radiated from his shield. It was kind of cool.

When he began on his long string of compliments, Serena had the grace to blush. If nothing else, Kesh seemed to speak his mind. It was refreshing to say the least. The warmth had crept back over her hand and she looked down to see that his hand was covering hers. Another smile edged up the corners of her lips. She couldn't believe how she was feeling. That adolescent squishyness was infiltrating her insides. She really needed to get a grip.

"So tell me what you miss most about the outside world since your shield came into place?" She lifted her head and watched him, her gaze seeking out his own.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-13 05:14 am UTC (link)

He smiled as she spoke of family and rebellion. Universal concepts shared even by orphans, but still no-one had ever found a universal way to deal with them. "I've no doubt he'll be happy to see you when you're ready. And no doubt, the remarkable ship you have us flying about in casts a dark shadow over previous choices. Not that I have any room to judge." Said the man on his was to a diamond caper and who had just the day before fenced off a forgery. Shades of grey... her chop shop was minor to other possible offenses and below that of those who actually stole the cars. Just as he passing of forgeries was lesser than those who created them.

He couldn't help but smile warmly as her accent thickened. What was it about foreign accents that was always so alluring. They always made things seem more exotic and different. Serena's face and reactions were animated and a joy to behold. The beauty's lips curled, cheeks reddened, gaze adverted and returned in response to various gestures or comments of his. Worse yet was that she had very similar effect on himself. She was enjoyable company indeed.

He question needed little time for him to stop and think. The answer was the same that it had been for more than the last decade. The same answer from when his shield had become so pronounced to isolate him. But while he knew the answer in his mind, his normally talkative ways failed him at the moment. Instead he picked up her hand and placed it palm to palm against his and thought for a moment as he looked at their hands held up vertical above the table. "When you touch someone... what do you feel? Localized warmth, pressure at the contact area, friction between surfaces, moisture from the person's skin." He smirked before continuing, "Even my description of touch is ... harsh and somewhat inhuman. Because I get none of that... just a generalized sensation of pressure with no pin-pointable source. Tap my shoulder and I could barely notice it, nor tell from 'feel' where it came from, sight and sound have to tell me that. But with you... I don't know, I can feel the energy you put off. Just like I could feel the stores in the engine bay orbs. But it's still... different. Kinda like what you might feel if you held your hand near a fire... but not heat, something I can't really describe well. Make any sense at all?" His eyes sought hers out, wondering if he was making any sense to her.

He shrugged a bit and pulled his hand back. "So what do I miss? That simple description... because all other interaction seems to be based off it". He looked off to the side, pretty sure that sounded fairly pathetic. But it was true. Of the three senses he was depraved, touch was the only one he wanted. Taste and smell were nice, but their lack didn't detach him from others. Touch did. He looked back to Serena, his turn to feel awkward and somewhat ashamed.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-13 03:51 pm UTC (link)

She shrugged and nodded because he was probably right about her father. And she didn't have any doubt that he would be happy to see her. She just needed to swallow her pride enough to bring herself to grovel. She would need to ask his forgiveness, for everything from being caught in the backseat of that car, to what she'd nearly been arrested for in college. And most of all, for abandoning him.

She watched Kesh about as much as he watched her, through lowered lashes or a flickering gaze. Every time he moved, his shirt gave him away. Her peripheral vision caught the loud colors with each shift of his body. She knew that he didn't eat or drink, but for a man that lived off of energy alone, he was in excellent shape. His features were boyish, but masculine. She was inexplicably drawn to him. She hadn't felt like this in a long time. She wondered if their powers interacting had anything to do with it. It was strange how mentally linked she was to her power. It was a part of her, but somehow also had a mind of its own. And oftentimes, it could make up her mind for her. She found him intriguing, interesting and engaging. She had never met anyone like him before. Someone who was so in the world, and yet not part of it. And not by his own choice, either. She almost felt sorry for him, but if she did that she would have to feel sorry for every mutant, and that was an impossible task.

As her palm came up against his, that strange new warmth radiated from his shield and thrummed against her skin. She liked the sensation, and was growing to enjoy it ever more. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip as he began to tell her what he missed most about the world outside his shield. She listened intently, but she was almost distracted by what his shield was doing. There wasn't much pressure, but where there was, a little light display ebbed and flowed from the contact. She smiled and watched it, her eyes dancing up to lock with his gaze as he told her that she was different. Her touch actually touched him. Not skin to skin, but he could feel her energy. It made her insanely happy to hear that, and she smiled.

"It makes perfect sense, Arlen. You feel a change. That's all that really matters. It probably doesn't happen to you often. It must be strange for you to feel something from another person for a change." She had tapered off to a whisper and dropped her gaze. But she brought it up again as he once more began to speak. She felt the absence of the warmth of his hand and instinctively sought it out again as he pulled away. She reached for him and turned his hand palm up, sliding her hand over his so that her fingers grazed his wrist. It was so strange to think that she was feeling only warmth, but not the small ridges on his fingers and hand that made up his fingerprints, not the pulse of his heart in his wrist, just a shield.

She saw that he was feeling awkward and slid her other hand under his, sandwiching it between her two palms. "There's nothing to be embarassed about. We're mutants, we all have things that make us unique. We just have to find the people who can make us feel more human." What she didn't say, was that she hoped she would be able to do that for him.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-14 12:35 am UTC (link)

Serena's words and taking his hand again soothed his anxiety. His fingers curled and relaxed against her, softly stroking her slender wrist. "No, not often at all. It's been longer than I care to think about really." That realization brought a suddenly tear; desire fighting fear, survival instinct vs humanity. For the first time in who knows how long he could feel another in at least some form, did that mean she could hurt him as well? Physical or other... he found himself starting to feel vulnerable. He hadn't felt such since he was a child, and yet it wasn't entirely distasteful. It was a break in otherwise monotonous emotional existence.

Serena's second hand surrounded his, he hadn't looked down but whatever it was he could feel from her he could sense more of now. For a split second his hand started to withdraw, but other impulses won out and kept the two in contact. Her last sentence brought his eyes back up to hers. There was no malice or mischief in her eyes; a hint of concern and sympathy... and something else. He wasn't sure what it was about this woman that was proving addicting in such short review. But whatever it was, it kept him rivet there with her.

"Sorry... I'm...." he smiled slightly "I don't know, just like you said 'strange' and skittishness is trying to accompany the unknown. Forgive me, this just isn't something I often try to delve into." He smiled softly, resolve and intrigue overtaking hesitation and fear. His other hand crept up to join over hers, leaving their hands folded over each other. "I think, you are a woman wise beyond your years. Perhaps it is only amongst ourselves we can find that completion." Kesh squeezed her hands softly. Her words of course made perfect sense... and here with her now, seemed they were a truth to be found.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-14 04:54 am UTC (link)

Serena now sort of felt bad that her touch had caused such a turmoil within him. She hadn't known that something so simple for her, would be something so complex for him. It was such an everyday thing for Serena to touch other people, but for Kesh it was much different. He didn't feel anyone's touch. If he were hit very hard, he might feel a light touch, but there was no direct contact. She was embarassed that she took her senses for granted. She wasn't sure what she would do if she lost even one of them.

"Don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. I'll not ask you to talk about it if it's going to make you uncomfortable. We can go at your pace." She knew that he felt awkward and strange in her presence, but she also knew that he hadn't run screaming from the room just yet, either. As his other hand slid over to cover hers, she looked down and watched their hands together.

She was starting to wonder herself what sort of effect her power might have on his shield. She pressed one of her fingers down against his palm. A fabulous light display exploded at the pressure point, but other than that, there was no change. Her finger met an invisible barrier and slipped like it was on ice. There was no discernable difference other than the light display. She frowned slightly and looked back up at him, changing her frown to a small sheepish smile.

"I'm not sure I'm wise beyond my years, I just know how I've felt since my power came to be." She lifted and dropped her shoulder. "Always the outsider, always the different one. But here on this ship, I almost feel normal." She chuckled lightly. "Strange as that sounds."

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-15 12:15 am UTC (link)

He smiled to her as she played with his hand. He knew the light show that his shield put off could be quite entertaining. It was one of the joys he had at times with his ability. At least he hadn't lost sight or sound, to not know the taste of food nor the scent of a woman was one thing. But to not see said woman, or listen to musical masterpieces... well he counted himself lucky for what he did have.

"Gracious indeed, but please ask of me what you would. I don't know why, but for once in my life I don't want to withhold and keep distant." He had just offered to open the book of his life to her, and for the life of him couldn't understand why. Perhaps he saw that book as tooo many blank pages and hanging chapters leaving no foreseeable ending; just a collection of unfinished short stories? Perhaps, at last he wanted to be known and not just known off. And he wanted to know this woman in return. His isolation from the world was not solely to be blamed on his abilities, but his choices and fears as well. Time to grow, if not grow up, and face some of those fears. To gamble rejection against acceptance.

"True, but then again... what defines normal. Amongst 'normal' people they still find plenty to ostracize each other with. At least in the company of other mutants, we tend to be more accepting of each other. Shared hardship breeds familiarity right?" He chuckled as he thought about how secluded the crew was even from each other though, himself included.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-15 03:49 am UTC (link)

Serena had figured that since his shield was invisible, he had no trouble seeing through it, but it had crossed her mind how he heard through it. Sound carried a power of its own and could be damaging in high decibles. She wondered if sound were muffled or felt filtered to him. But, she would likely never know the answer to that one. And it was really too bad that he couldn't smell her, because she smelled delightful. No matter where they stopped, she made a point of having someone buy her a store of Bulgari's Green Tea Shower Gel. She used it every day, and loved it.

She was glad to know that he felt compelled to tell her all about himself, for she wanted to know all about him. Even menial things, like his favorite color. She supposed they had plenty of time to talk of things like that, though. She watched the display of lights once more as she tried to penetrate his shield. Her finger once more just skimmed across the shield, like a skater on ice. She was slightly disappointed, but Serena wasn't one to give up easily. She was going to try and try and try, until she was absolutely sure she couldn't get through it. She felt like she should be able to get through it, otherwise why would he feel her touch an no one else's?

"Well, you may come to regret giving me permission to ask you anything I like." She smiled devilishly and leaned toward him a little more across the table. "I may be too curious for my own good sometimes." She grinned. His take on what she'd said before was true. Normalcy was relative to the environment. "I'm certainly more comfortable around other mutants. I don't have to worry about hiding my power or anything around other mutants, not like I did in school." She smiled and patted his hand. "So tell me where you grew up."

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-15 05:26 am UTC (link)

Kesh smiled as he watched Serena try to poke her finger to his palm. Pretty shimmers were all the result though, though he could sense the proximity of her finger to his hand. If he could feel some measure of... something just from her finger or hand, what could he feel from her lips, or from having her pressed wholly against him?

His enjoyment of watching her diminished as a tinge of disappointment crossed her face. "I may be able to sense you... but I'm pretty sure brute force won't prevail in whatever you're attempting. The more forceful an impact, the harder I tend to react it." He shrugged, all he knew was that a light touch didn't bring comments about feeling like steel. People who had tried brawling with him though, well a couple had suffered from a boxer's break and the others never mentioned a squishy exterior.

He grinned in return as she leaned towards him. "Oh, I have no doubt of that. But the statement has been made and retraction impossible on spoken word. Then again, if such interrogation is rewarded with a smile like that... I think you capable of wringing me dry." He leaned forward to match her posture, "Well, my father was a fairly ambitious corporate type, so we moved around a fair amount as he chased whatever next title was available. But I spent some time on both coasts, a few years in Britain, and when I was younger tagged along on business trips here and there. " He paused and thought for a moment, "But if I had to call a place 'Home' it probably would have been Kansas... I like it there the best. Midwest charm and manners and enough open room to do as I pleased... which usually meant motorcycles and ignoring speed limits."

"Yourself? And why build this ship? I imagine with your talent, you could have worked for whomever building whatever you desired."

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grease_monkey
2008-02-16 08:50 pm UTC (link)

Serena smiled sheepishly when she knew that she'd been caught trying to get through his shield. She didn't try pressure again, at least not like she had been. This time she concentrated on pushing energy through his shield instead of just her finger. But once again, she only seemed to encounter his shield. She bit down slightly on her lower lip as she tried once again. To her own shock, she felt a strange give in the shield. She looked up at him with wide eyes and a surprised grin.

When he began to speak about his father and the moving around they did, she could sort of sympathize. She'd sort of gone through the same thing. She grinned and waited for him to finish. She liked his voice, and she especially liked the way he spoke to her. She could easily be distracted by his voice, get sidetracked, forget what she was doing. Or what he'd just asked her. She realized then that he was waiting for an answer.

"Oh, well I was born in Spain, but when I was 8 we moved to Louisiana. Dad wanted to get away from where my mother was killed, I suppose. He's a truck driver, so we basically lived all over whenever he took me with him. I agree with you about Kansas, it is nice there. But I think I will always calle Louisiana home." She shrugged and grinned.

"Well, I suppose I felt grateful to Nate for bailing me out of a potentially bad situation. I wanted to help him out in return, but I wanted to help myself at the same time. I figured building this ship would get me out of town, but it was also a chance for me to do something I'd never done before. I'd invented things, of course, but never something this enormous." She chuckled and tilted her head slightly. "And I don't work for Nate. We work together. He knows he wouldn't get anywhere without me. And I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him." She laughed softly and began to once again try to penetrate his shield.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-16 09:37 pm UTC (link)

A soft chuckle responded to the little smile when Serena was busted. The chuckle gave way to a smile at the woman's continued determination to pierce him. He was about to comment about something or rather when a prod was... felt. Shimmers shot out wildly from where she touched, distressed lines faded out about his wrist and fingers. His eyes grew wide and hand jerked back instinctively. He balled his fist and released it, flickering his fingers about before slowly and cautiously offering it back to Serena.

"... what did you just do?" He questioned with shocked and curious eyes. "I... I..." his head shook and couldn't find any way to describe what he had just felt. Something had.. budged. Couldn't say there was contact felt, but never had his shield ever deflected any. No matter how hard the hit, or resulting injury... his shield had always been a constant. And yet something had just changed, been bent, manipulated or something. Was it due to her powers,persistence, or was something wrong with him?

It took him a minute to register her words, his mind was still reeling from whatever she had just done. He had been to Louisiana a time or two on trips, but never got to stay long. "Only been there a time or two, but I remember it being a beautiful place. And man those people knew how to party." Listening to her smooth accent calmed his nerves somewhat and drew him back away from his concerns and initial reaction. "Sorry, didn't mean to imply such... just that, I would think your options wide open. I mean, who wouldn't want you?" He sighed and shook his head a bit, realizing how that could have come out. Kesh grinned a bit, "It does seem that you have more than a normal amount of built-in job security. Almost to the point of worrysome. Just it gives us good reason to not let anything happen to you." As he watched again toy with his hand he realized he had spoken out of concern for her and not survivability.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-16 11:51 pm UTC (link)

She felt him jerk his hand back and instantly regretted trying to penetrate his shield. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he asked her what she'd done and cautiously offered his hand back. He mustn't have been angry about it, then. She closed her mouth as he began to speak, but nothing seemed to be forming for him. She dropped her head, slightly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I just wanted to see if I could get through."

Sighing softly, she ceased any further attempts to get through his shield. She just held his hands in hers, stroking the warmth of the sheild, trying to reassure him that she wasn't trying to hurt him or manipulate him. When he turned to speaking of Louisiana, she looked back up at him. She laughed softly at his comment about the parties. "It was a lot of fun to grow up there." She sat back slightly, though she kept hold of his hands.

"I suppose my options are wide open. But, I like Nate, and I love this ship. I don't really ever want to leave it." She grinned when he said "who wouldn't want you?". She knew what he meant, but she also saw his own reaction to the words and knew that he thought they might get misinterpreted. "Listen, I know that some people on this ship worry about my safety. And not because they like me. It's because this thing doesn't fly unless I make it fly. But, just between you and me, Nate and I have a backup plan just in case I'm ever killed or injured to the point that I can't get her into the air." She could tell from the tone of his voice that he wasn't just concerned about his own survival, or even that of the rest of the crew's. But, perhaps for her own safety? "I can take care of myself. I haven't survived this long because I've had bodyguards." She smiled, patting his hand. "No need to worry about me."

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-17 05:33 am UTC (link)

Their conversation and mood had levitated again after dismissing her need for apology. Indeed they seemed to be trying to feel each other out, and feeling bad when discovering a less than happy place. Unfortunately, such is the nature of discovery. Kesh enjoyed Serena's company though, and based off her smiles and other concerns... she seemed to enjoy his as well.

"It is a good ship. And the captain is hard not to like, seems like just about every crew member here owes him in one way or another. Saved some from others, saved others from themselves." He smirked to himself as she mentioned not being defenseless or frail. And of course she wasn't, if she could power and move a ship she could probably affect any confronter in a recconable manner. "So where did the name come from?"

Kesh bit his lip in thought as he drifted back to what she had said a few moments ago. "Why?" He rolled his eyes for a moment, she was telekinetic... not telepathic. 'Have to use words to form full sentences.' He thought to himself. "... why do you want to try to get through to me?" He didn't think she desired anything foul for him nor suspect her of having any malevolent plans, but the only people prior who wanted the same were researchers all working towards their own ends. How did his body not need anything but energy, how did his shield work, what were it's weaknesses, could it be a new armor for military, could it be weaponized, the list of questions and projects went on and on. No doubt they had not helped his jaded outlook on society, but Serena seemed nothing the type. Curious sure, but what else was driving her?

His attraction to her was quite obvious, in his own mind at least. Sure curiosity about her powers was a strong initial draw, she was beautiful to boot too. But she was engaging and singular woman in the conformal world he had seen abroad. A different and intriguing blend of traits that was hard not to want to interact with.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-18 03:48 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, Nate is pretty likeable. He brings in more people than anyone else on this ship. Hard to believe, but he doesn't save everyone." She grinned licked her lips before she answered his next question. "Grease Monkey? Oh, I guess it's because when he found me, I was working on cars. They usually refer to mechanics as Grease Monkeys, I guess. What about yours?"

She tilted her head slightly to the right when he posed his why question, but then he clarified and she shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe just to see if I could." She didn't want to tell him that holding his hand this way left her wanting more. Wanting to feel his actual skin in her hands. It was so strange to be holding his hand, but not touching his skin. It was like he was wearing gloves he could never take off. She knew he was probably worried that she was so interested in getting through his shield, but she had no malicious intent. She just wanted to touch him like she touched other people.

He seemed to be watching her, lost in his own thoughts. She smiled at him and patted his hand. "What are you thinking about?"

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-18 04:45 am UTC (link)

"What is the turnover rate like on the crew? Or does it just keep growing?" He laughed softly at the last part. His eyes fixated for a moment as Serena licked her lips. Simple movements and gestures could be so riveting. He chuckled to himself as she explained the origin of her name. He should have guessed. "Well, Capt'n said I had to come up with an alias for business use. So I adopted the name of Zeus's armor. Buckler or breastplate, depends on the story... but seemed fitting regardless." he shrugged.

A small laugh was prompted by her answer, "The reasoning of the greatest of inventors and also of conquerers." He smiled teasingly, tacking onto his comment with raised brow, "Keen on conquering me?" The warm smile stayed on his lips as he wrapped his two hands around hers. He could feel her presence, something like which he had never experienced. Not even before his powers came into play. With enough patience and trial, could he feel her touch? She had already manipulated his shield to some extent, how much was possible? Could her telekinetic touch pass through it, could she herself pass through it? Those thoughts were starting to lose their fearful edge.

"MMmmmm.... never been told that is a dangerous question to ask a man? Seems we're never thinking the 'appropriate' thing for the moment." He looked from her hands to her waiting eyes. "In truth?" he paused and nodded his head, mostly telling himself to just say it. "... a couple of trains of thought at once. Please though, do realize any hesitation and fears I have are born from previous people, and I associate non of it with you. But I can't help but wonder to what extent you can manipulate my power, and to what end. Not that it wouldn't be something to feel your touch. That and a couple of things related the the general simple thing are one thought path. The other...." He looked down to their hands again, for once a tint coming to his cheeks. "The other being, if we continue this proximity and manner of confabulation... this schoolboy crush could easily turn into a full out hankering."

He pushed past his embarrassment of his admission and looked back up to her, a shy curl at the end of his lips. "You asked"

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grease_monkey
2008-02-19 03:51 pm UTC (link)

"The turnover rate is all over the place. Sometimes it's high, sometimes it's low. It just depends on what people want out of the King's Ransom, and what they can contribute. Some people are just looking for a ride to the next port, some can't really handle the life we lead. And then there are those who stay for a long time. I suppose when we find a crew that never wants to leave we'll either have to build a bigger ship, or start turning people away." She smiled and listened as he told the tale of his name. "It is fitting."

She laughed softly at his next question. "I'm not a conquerer. It's just strange for me not to be able to feel your skin. It's like you have a glove on that you can never take off, you know? I just want to slip my finger under the edge of that glove and see what your skin feels like." She shrugged again and wrinkled her nose as she peered over at him. "I didn't mean to startle or frighten you. I honestly didn't expect to manipulate your shield at all."

"Dangerous or not, I'm a big girl. I think I can handle whatever you're thinking." She grinned again. She waited while he went on to explain what it was that he was thinking. It was funny, of the times she'd asked a man this question, she'd never really gotten a straightforward answer. It was always, "nothing" or "it's not important" or "nothing you'd want to hear about". Never anything like this. When he stopped and looked up at her with an embarrassed grin, she shook her head and smiled softly.

"I have no reason to try to get through your shield, other than to have direct contact with you. I can understand if you are uncomfortable with it. Your shield is all you've known for the last how many years and I wouldn't want to encroach on that safety net." The next part of his confession and her response to it, brought a little bit of a blush to her own cheeks and she gave him a lopsided grin. "That's good news. I was hoping that none of my actions or words would scare you off. I think I have a tendency to do that." It seemed most men were thrilled with the idea that she was both feminine and yet not afraid to get her hands dirty in the engine of a machine. But after a while, they grew tired of not being able to impress her with their own manly displays and of pretending to be someone they weren't. Oftentimes, that led them to being angry with her, though she hadn't done anything wrong. She never set a standard or expectation of the men she dated, except that they be loyal to her. Sometimes that was too much to ask, though, as well.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-02-20 03:52 am UTC (link)

He nodded in understanding. Over the years and crews he had seen a fair share of turnover. Hell, he'd been in his share of turnovers. Most the time he just couldn't put up with being ordered around by the senior staff, other times... got bored and looked for greener grass. But aboard with this crew, well... couldn't think of a reason to leave. "A bigger boat? Seems it would be quite the feat, we seem to be on not so small a ship as is." Indeed, the Ransom was the largest ship he had been in so far, and by a fair amount. Entirely possible there were bigger though, he wasn't much of a ship person.

Kesh grinned widely, " A pity... I can picture you as a Joan. Mmm... no, more of a Cleopatra I think." He chuckled, picturing her in the part. No, he liked her as Serena better. He fought to keep his coloring normal, but it was not helping. Her shake of head and slight smile left him wondering if he had just made a fool of himself. And why did that bother him anyway? Never gave a damn what other people thought before, but now he was actually concerned.

He leaned forward into the table, resting heavily against his elbows as he listened intently at her explanation. He thought for a moment before replying. "I don't know, perhaps it's a fear and discomfort that should be examined and confronted. Such is the means of growth, no? Some chances are worth taking I think."

He appreciated the flush of her cheeks, made him feel more in place and perhaps not out of line with his comment. But he blinked in confusion, 'a tendency to scare off men'. Sure Serena seemed on the frank side, and not to cater to... but that was attractive to Kesh, someone who would just lay it out there like he tended to. Who wouldn't want her? He assumed her requirements high enough that most couldn't pass.

He hadn't had all that many relationships, didn't usually see the point. All work, and very little in return physically or other. He was a loner, used to it, liked it, and had more than once been accused of being a cold hearted bastard. So why the warm familiarity with this crew and feeling of want with this woman. Dammit, what was wrong with him... had never been anywhere he couldn't just walk away from. But now, well that was starting to change.

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grease_monkey
2008-02-25 04:02 am UTC (link)

She smirked a little when he expressed what a feat it would be to build a bigger ship. She only shrugged in response. The King's Ransom was the largest thing she'd built to date, but she envisioned being able to build something mightier and grander.

"Yes, well... it's just not my style, I suppose. I'll leave the conquering up to people like Nate." Her small smile broadened when he said that some chances were worth taking. She'd like to be one of those chances and hoped that his thinking was along the same lines. "I agree."

No sooner had she spoken those two words than the intercom in her room buzzed and a voice came over. "GM, you're needed in the control room." Nothing more than that, but she knew what it meant. She sighed heavily, reluctant to leave his company. But, if she didn't go, who knew what tragedy might befall the ship. Not really, but they usually didn't call her unless it was necessary.

"I'm sorry, but I should go." She let go of his hands and stood up, pushing her chair back under the table. She wanted to spend more time with him, but she just wasn't sure how to express that. "I'll see you around, yeah? We'll be in Hawaii tomorrow. Maybe we could hit the beach?" She smiled and opened the door, waiting for him to step out. She shut the door behind them and locked it.

She looked at him, pulling her lips between her teeth. Then, deciding to go for it, and what the hell, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "I had a good time. Thank you." With that, she turned and headed down the hall toward the control room.

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