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Topic: Star Trek Into Darkness
Subject: Really enjoyed it
I grew up watching the original series as reruns and of course watched the Star Trek TNG, Voyager and DS9 series in the 80"s and 90's. The first reboot was exactly that; a reboot, and no-one gets greatness from a computer when it's re-initializing 
Now that the characters have been re-introduced, however, the plot-line can begin to emerge, and Abrams does that with this movie, while also lining up the premise for future films (that five year mission, of course). Without giving away any spoilers, I enjoyed the tension between the characters, and Pine taking his own path on Kirk (defiant, courageous, finding his balance between rebel and Captain) is a pleasure to watch. Some people may find Quinto's take on Spock too much a departure, but I find Spock's human/Vulcan struggle interesting. Without it, the character could too easily be mistaken for Lt. Commander Data
The action was almost to fast to take in at a 3D viewing, but that may be these old eyes, and I am certainly likely to go again (and maybe again) to take in what I missed the first time.
My only disappointment? The 'new" science officer, who's name still escapes me. Really only served as a minor plot twist and eye candy for the male audience/Kirk. A rather gratuitous "almost nude but this is PG" scene felt contrived and was completely pointless (maybe the guys will disagree ).
Cumberbatch? Simply amazing...and I won't say anything more 
Posted on 2013-05-20 at 13:17:03.
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Topic: Teller must away
Subject: Thoughts and Prayers be with you
We'll be here, m'dear!
Posted on 2013-05-16 at 21:26:44.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: This day started what? Two years ago?
“I’ll make the bay,” Wyatt rasped, not looking directly at Willow and fixating instead on her labcoat pocket. “Once we get there, an’ yer sure you no longer need that kuh wu device; destroy it. Wipe the gorram thing from the ‘Verse, don ma?”
"Of course, Captain-san," Willow replied carefully, saying nothing more as Wyatt re-arranged his clothing and prepared to help move Bridges, Willow moving to lift Bridges arm around her shoulders and help carry his weight.
“Remind me,” he muttered to Willow as they made their way to the medical bay. “To never answer a distress call again.”
Willow laughed a little at that, hearing more of her Captain return to himself, and ducked her head forward to look past Bridges' head at Wyatt.
" Dang-ran (Certainly) Captain-san, the day you turn your back on folks in need is the day I take a vow of celibacy. Here we are....let's set Cameron-san on the side bench and Amber on the bed, shall we?"
As the men settled their charges, Willow slipped the finger sleeve out of her pocket and set it into her diagnostics system, tabbing the command for "connect with device-find" and letting the smart machine have its way with the offender. She then tugged on yet another pair of medical gloves today and turned back to her patients, considering.
Amber was panicky and near hysterical, and Willow knew she wouldn't get more than three coherent words out of her. Murmuring reassuring nothings, Willow administered a light sedative, but was unsurprised when Amber slid into unconsciousness. She lowered the girl back onto the bed and tucked one of the surgical sheets and blankets around the slumbering girl's body, setting the silver emergency blanket aside. She set the MedComp on full scan on Amber while she moved onto the Captain.
"We need our Captain running things, and not hanging out here, but I want to be certain you've taken no harm before you run off, don'ma?" she started out firmly as she scanned Wyatt with the portable MedAcad. He merely grunted, his face set as usual but his eyes were haunted.
This contradicted the readings she was getting from the MedAcad, and she started to move back to the MedComp to see if it indicated the same thing about Amber. Cameron stopped her as she went by," "I really don't know what happened. She came on to me, I said no and then next thing I knew I ...couldn't stop myself. This overwhelming desire and lust took over. I'm sorry."
"Cameron-san, please, just a moment. You needn't apologize to me," Willow said distractedly as she hurriedly scanned Cameron and compared his readings to Amber and the Captain's.
All three of the patients showed heightened cerebral stimulation, with Amber being the most "over stimulated". Cameron was ... well exhausted from pushing his body well past the point of pain or personal limits. The captain was most recently affected and his septum pellucidium and the hypothalamus were almost raw with stimulation. As well his dopamine levels were high - very high. The fact that the captain was standing here, instead of acting on baser instincts, spoke volumes to his self control.
"No-one need apologize," Willow said at last, looking first at Cameron, then Wyatt." This wasn't something you did...it was done TO you." Wyatt's haunted look made sense now, and Willow moved back to stand in front of her Captain. Understanding the chemical conflict raging through him, she kept her voice and face stern, so as to not provoke him further.
"Hear me, Wyatt? YOU didn't do this....what you feel isn't real. It's a cheat. A damned ugly one. This," and she took one of his hands and pinched hard on the web of flesh between thumb and hand," THIS is real. We need you awake, so I can't knock you out to sleep it off. Do this, or bite your lip, whatever, to send real signals to your brain, overriding what your brain thinks it feels and that should help clear your thinking. I'll see what more I can safely do later, alright?"
The diagnostic system chose that moment to signal its failure to connect, flashing "Unknown device - Cortical Stimulator. Sensory amplifier present, cannot connect to RF unit access code unknown" with an entirely inappropriately cheerful chirp.
"'Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!" Crackled Tess over the comm.
Posted on 2013-05-16 at 03:20:29.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Dang!
Unfortunately, Alacrity had to deliver such an awesome post so late (relatively) at night...I hae my post half-written already in my head, but can't afford to stay up late to actually post it!
Tomorrow night...I promise! 
Posted on 2013-05-14 at 03:11:42.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Willow's a bit frayed
LV-426 Outside of Rocinante’s Cargo Bay 7:00 am PT
"Now what's the matter here? What did you say," Willow addressed the young man," that could possibly deserve a slapping?"
Willow listened with bemusement as the older woman and lanky young man related their earlier exchange about populating the planet. It was with some effort that she maintained her calm and cool manner as the identical girls threatened to become hysterical at the prospect of missing prom.
"Now, now, everyone, let's keep some perspective. We're here temporarily while we make some repairs, and won't be here long enough to need to worry about such things. Besides, my good sir, there's hardly enough of us to ensure genetic diversity. The gene pool's a bit shallow if I'm doing my math right. "
“Ma’am. I have an IQ quite a bit higher than everyone here and I can assure you that ship is going nowhere without a drive pod. It is essential we must ensure the survival of the people.” The young man declared self-importantly, “Besides, this lady is obvious well past her child bearing years.”
Willow had raised her eyebrows at being called Ma'am, but Beatrice had clearly had enough, lashing out again to deliver another ringing slap.
“OW! She hit me again! I will be forced to defend myself woman! Lenard! Come here and save me from her!”
The three young men come running over with the shorter one heading directly to Willow’s side while the one wearing glasses steps cautiously between his friend and Beatrice. “Yeah. Listen. I’m sorry for whatever my friend here suggested.” He says while adjusting his glasses, and then whispers, “He is really quite crazy.”
“No I’m not! My mother had me tested!”
The shorter man smiles in a poor attempt to be seductive and says to Willow, “Vous êtes si chaud et délicieux que je veux pour courir ma langue partout dans vous.” He looks smug and says, “I’m sorry, have you never been told that you are beautiful before in Earth that Was French?”
Willow blinked in horror at the short fellow standing much too close to her and stepped sideways enough to put a discernible space between herself and the puppy dog eyed Romeo.
"There will be this much space, if not more, between us at all times, or I will be forced to sedate you, don ma?" she said sharply, her patience beginning to wear thin. As "Romeo"'s jaw dropped, Willow turned to the one called Leonard and pulled her composure back together with some effort.
"Leonard, is it? Leonard, love, we have more passengers that this ship should be able to carry, yet she got us here safe at a great cost to herself. We need to get her fixed and back in the Black, and we can't do that with scared passengers fighting amongst themselves...or trying to breed, or," and she threw a sharp look at her erstwhile seducer, "or licking each other. If you have any brilliant ideas on keeping your friends out of trouble..."
Willow's voice trailed off as she spotted Lord Hood and Captain Havelock making their way among the passengers, stopping at each little group to speak briefly before moving on. She caught Havelock's eye and waved them over.
"Captain Havelock! Just the man I was looking for! These four young men are eager, as they've told me, to do what they can to help. Aren't we in need of latrines to be dug or piles of rock to be built? Something, " she waved her hands as a light dawned in Havelock's eyes and Lord Hood hid a smile, " to wear young bodies out and keep idle hands busy?"
"I know just the thing, milady, just the thing! Right, men! Follow me!"
Willow sighed in relief as Havelock hustled the protesting young men off, his battered air of command still too much for the youngsters to ignore. She spent a few minutes smoothing things over with Beatrice and her young women, and was just about to resume her pursuit of the musician with the silver case when a call came over the com tucked in her lab coat pocket.
“Miss Willow." Ash's voice crackled, "We’re gonna need a med kit with tranquilizers.. and maybe antidotes in the port shuttle. We got a couple high on some sort of love drug and if we don’t slow 'em down this old guy is gonna hurt himself.”
" Gossah! " Willow muttered to herself, "That must be Amber....I lost track of her in all the fuss." She looked over to where Sifu was sitting near the musicians, and the little monk must have read her expression, as he quickly waved her off with a thumbs up gesture.
Willow hustled back to the ship, one hand rummaging through the med kit slung over her shoulder, each touch reminding her of the contents she'd so carefully kept stocked. She did have a couple of doses of a narcotic for field emergencies, and of course, in a pinch, there was the knockout drug on her hairpin. Praying she wouldn't need any of it, she scrambled to the port shuttle and slid to a stop, her eyes wide.
Cameron Bridges and Amber Portia were both crumbled on the ground and covered with emergency blankets, but it was clear from the clothing scattered around that neither had a stitch on under the blankets. Ash was trying to comfort the girl, and Cameron lay dazed, his eyes unfocused and his face covered in sweat. It was the Captain that flummoxed Willow. He stood like his usual implacable self, but he was breathing heavily as if he'd run a mile and his shirt was wide open...and blood on his arm.
"Captain? I .... uh....let's get these two to my medical bay - I know both of these people, but I'm pretty certain they didn't know each other...before today, that is. I'd seen Amber earlier and was worried about her. She seemed to be under the influence of something," Willow had crouched beside Amber to check her hand, but then spotted the device on the shuttle floor.
"This is the likely culprit, though I have no idea what it is, " Willow knew she was babbling as she scooped up the device and dropped it in her pocket, but she was fighting the feeling this was all her fault. If only she'd kept Amber with her, if only she'd not given Cameron the slip, if, if, if, if rang through her brain.
"Are they going to be ok?" Ash asked, and that helped Willow focus. She shot him a look of pure gratitude (likely puzzling the poor man), and smiled as reassuringly as she could.
"I'll need to get them stabilized - I don't like Cameron-san's colour, but I don't think this is a drug. That thing had no reservoir for a liquid, so I suspect it's a neuro-stimulator of some kind. Can you carry Amber, Ash? We'll have to get help with Cameron-san. Captain-san," Willow asked without looking at him directly," Are you able to walk to the bay unassisted? I'm thinking I'd better check you, as well."
Posted on 2013-05-06 at 03:18:48.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Yay!
It will be good to have you game with us again, Yana! I hope Celeste can rejoin sometime soon, but you'll do Tess justice...she's a "chew gum and kick butt" kinda gal, jut the way you like them
Posted on 2013-04-28 at 21:33:45.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: doctor, companion, referee
Willow turned to the monk on her arm and muttered in a low voice that wouldn't carry. "I'd start with that fellow."
Sifu nodded and the two of them walked towards the group. Fu Sheung whispered back, “I am not at my best right now, I have to admit. I can not ... feel what I would normally. I think it maybe is the injury is hampering my gift. However I can see he is clearly agitated.”
Willow squeezed his arm in a manner that was meant to comfort. "You haven't had the best day, Sifu, and the anaesthetic won't have fully cleared your system for another 24 hours. A little "numbness" may be what you need to heal."
Willow didn't say anything more on it, but she knew she was deeply curious as to how Sifu "felt" what he did. She was a highly trained student of body language and human behaviour...but she was still only guessing...what was it like to know?
As they approached the subject of their curiosity, Willow realized that they'd been too direct, the nervous young man backed away to be among his fellows and a portly man, also dressed as a band member, stepped into their path, his intent obvious.
“Hello. I am Roland of the Star’s orchestra. Please allow me to thank you for your timely rescue and efforts. No doubt we’d not be here without them.” He says and smiles a smile that is sincere but his eyes flash concern for his fellow band member. Both Willow and Sifu can see that his shoulders tense as if fearing a fight but hoping for not.
"We are all that any of us have out here in the Black," Willow replied smoothly," who could possibly see a ship in distress and not help? I hope that you've all recovered somewhat from the shock of it all. I don't recall having to treat anyone from the band...I trust you are all uninjured?"
“We are well. Hoping that we will be able to go home soon. Have you managed to get a signal out?”
"Our communications specialist is doing what he can...he mentioned something about interference from the explosion, but honestly, I couldn't follow half of it," Willow laughed carelessly, "he keeps the diagnostic equipment running for me, so that's all that matters. Seriously, though, are you sure everyone's ok, Roland, dear? That young man with the case seems rather anxious...is there anything I can do?<"Willow leaned in and lowered her voice confidentially. "We need to keep people as calm as possible - panic is more infectious than a Reaver's bite."
“Ahh... Well. He has something on his mind. He will be fine once the rescue team comes. “The big man replies and looks back at the other man, “Justin? Perhaps if you talk to these people you’d feel better?”
“You know I can’t Roland!” He calls back, hugging the briefcase protectively.
“Justin! This seems to be a special situation. I do not think a monk and a Doctor are trying to steal it?”
Justin shakes his head but then the others start to reassure him that it is okay. He seems to mull it over and then begins to step forward with the case still held tightly in his grip.
Just as Justin had started to tentatively move towards Willow and Sifu, the sharp crack of an open palm on skin came from behind Willow, and she spun to see the "Queen Bee" (as Willow'd come to think of the woman with the flock of young girls) rubbing her hand as the lanky youngster who'd been carried back from the engine room by his friends rubbed his own face.
“Ow! Help Me! This lady is assaulting my face! Someone protect my face!”
Willow looked back at Justin, sighing as he melted back into the crowd - she'd have to start over with him, later. Turning back to the two combattants, she mustered a bland smile and stepped between them.
"Now what's the matter here? What did you say," Willow addressed the young man," that could possibly deserve a slapping?"
Posted on 2013-04-28 at 21:31:32.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Fine
I don't want to end the game, nor do I want anyone to leave...and I do not wish to leave myself.
Posted on 2013-04-25 at 02:15:10.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: funny, I read the posts
Unless they have been edited....John sees " writhing on the floor of the shuttle. Stunned, it took John a couple of seconds to pull himself together. Averting his eyes slightly from the frantic bodies he banged on the side of the shuttle and loudly cleared his throat. The couple looked up but paid him not attention before getting back to it. This wasn't normal, and considering that John noticed the girl... Amber?... was gripping the man's neck tightly and, causing a bleed, a needle-like thing attached to one of Amber's fingers was stuck into the man's neck." John, and not anyone else, is the only one who sees the needle on her finger. Nothing about who's on top of whom.
So, you are acting on information that your character does not have.
Let's also consider that pulling two people apart as suggested by some of the players is markedly different than "grabbed the girl by the back of her neck and physically tossed her out of the shuttle to land on the ramp behind him. "
If that's your character and his actions...so be it. I will have to carefully consider mine.
Posted on 2013-04-24 at 02:57:15.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: How is that better?
So a rich old man has more rights to dignity and not being manhandled than a young rich woman. Got it. Still ugly.
Posted on 2013-04-23 at 23:17:11.
Edited on 2013-04-23 at 23:31:14 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Disturbing trend
Folks,
Given recent events IRL with young women being assaulted by men and the media worrying more about "those poor boys and their promising sports careers" - I am finding the tone set by a number of my fellow players disturbing...and I'll put it out there for your consideration.
Not all of the players witnessed Amber propositioning John or anyone else, and only John has spotted the device but several of you have assumed, in the ugliest terms, that Amber's "a backwater whore" and " a sex animal" and your instinct to put your hands on her, and not the older naked guy? Why is her nudity more upsetting than his???
Posted on 2013-04-23 at 01:00:32.
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Topic: Yanamari's Emporium
Subject: Welcome back!
It indeed has been too long! We've missed your fair hand and wicked wit
Posted on 2013-04-16 at 03:27:36.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: I'm here, I'm here!
"Not the best time to admit this, but I'm not a medic. I never graduated first year of med-school."
One of the first things a Companion was taught was control over their own face and body language, a momentary freeze to allow time to think of the appropriate reaction and response. Willow was just tired enough that she found herself simply staring wide-eyed at John while she desperately tried to remember what she'd been told about the new crew member. In the end, she realized that it didn't matter what skills she thought the man across from her possessed; he'd just admitted to not being up for a task, and she had to respect someone who recognized when a lie mattered too much.
“If that’s the case, I’ll manage, thank you. Our friend here walks around with a truly bare head, he deserves as finer scar as possible. We can get you practicing on oranges later.” Willow allowed herself a reassuring smile for John, and freed him to go help in the cockpit. Pushing fatigue aside as best she could, set herself to the painstaking task of closing the wound with precise stitches that looked large and angry now, but would fade quickly. Her main tasks done, Willow tidied up after securing Fu Sheng securely to the bed with padded webbing made for just such emergencies. When the ship began to it's stomach shaking gyrations, Willow braced herself as best she could, and waited for the landing, sending whispered prayers to the ship, to Buddha, to Tess, whomever may be listening.
The landing knocked the breath out of her, but she knew they were very, very lucky to be alive, and she patted the ship's wall in thanks, telling herself Tess would get a big hug later. Before she could even move towards the monk, his eyes popped open and he asked, "Have we landed? I...I must speak with the Captain!"
WIllow tried to quiet him, but Sifu hand grasped Willow's arm firmly but not harshly. It was as if the importance of what the monk was trying to say was telegraphed in the single action. “No Miss Willow. What I have to say may well hold the balance of life or death for everyone on the ship.” He said before releasing her arm. Willow simply nodded and called the Captain to the comm, putting them on a direct connection.
After they spoke, Sifu insisted on joining Willow in the cargo bay, saying he hoped being closer to the passengers would help him find their quarry. Willow wasn't sure about letting the man move so soon after coming out of anaesthesia, but the little man would not be denied, and Willow decided it was better to help him, and ensure he was careful, then to try to patch him up afterwards.
They made their slow way to the cargo bay, and although Willow knew no-one there would be necessarily at their ease, one musician seemed to be more uneasy than even the situation seemed to call for. Willow used her support of Sifu to bring the musician into the monk's line of sight, then muttered in a low voice that wouldn't carry. "I'd start with that fellow."
Posted on 2013-04-09 at 02:56:53.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Paging the doctor, stat!
Willow's worry eased as she found John in the medical bay, his steady manner belying the obvious haste in which he'd tidied the bay. He helped to guide the men carrying Sifu to the table, which let Willow hastily remove the long silken dulpatta from around her shoulders and pull a scrub shirt over the short sleeved choli blouse she wore. By the time she'd pulled on a lab coat to cover her skirts and donned gloves, John had Sifu prepped and had dismissed the men.
Willow was looking at the diagnostic screen when Wyatt's voice over the com called John to the bridge. Exchanging a glance, Willow nodded her agreement, but whispered," Hurry back. I'll need you." And John was gone so fast he seemed almost a memory.
She returned to her study of the screen, tapping here and there to get more information. She could see the dark shadow spreading over Sifu's brain, ironically not near the gash. The brain floated in a cushion of fluid encased by a tough membrane to protect it, but the backlash of the little monk's impact had been too much for that membrane, and it had torn, bleeding and increasing the pressure inside Sifu's skull.
Willow prepared the instruments she'd need: scalpel, cauterizer, clamps, suction and sponges, and the sutures and needles she'd need afterward. She picked up the sonic bone cutter, checked the screen again for the thickness of Sifu's skull, then calibrated the cutter with precise taps of her finger.
She nudged the com button with her elbow, reaching the bridge. "Tess, dear, be a love and keep Rocinante as steady as you can? I'm about to do one of my more delicate dances, and a barrel roll in the next hour or so would be...unfortunate."
Wyatt used the chance to ask about Sifu, and Willow, not seeing any point in being delicate, gave the news straight, as Wyatt would appreciate nothing else. He was silent a moment, then ordered John to rejoin her. Willow almost smiled at that, but settled for pulling the surgical mask into place and walking back to Sifu.
The little monk seemed so small under the light green sheet, his face partially obscured by the oxygen mask. Willow touched his face gently, wishing she could reassure him before she began. Shaking her head at such folly, she picked up her scalpel and began, making precise cuts in the little monk's scalp and peeling it back to expose the bone of his skull.
John joined her at the point, and after scrubbing in, came to stand across her, sponges and suction at the ready. They worked quickly, the sonic blade cutting a small circle of bone that Willow deftly lifted away, setting it in a dish for John to rinse and prep for its re-insertion later. Moving quickly, Willow suctioned away the excess blood so that she could see the pinkish brain beneath. Almost immediately, blood began seeping in again, but Willow was ready with the cauterizer; quick snaps of heat closing off microscopic blood vessels in the dura. They worked well together; the tall medic and the slender companion, exchanging words sparingly but moving as if they'd worked together thus many times. It felt good to not have to bear this responsibility alone, Willow thought to herself.
She handed the cauterizer back to John and peered at the surface of the brain, looking for signs of cell death or other damage. So many memories lay within its folds, emotions and memories and skills and experiences. It seemed odd to her, this moment; all her time as a Companion never felt as intimate as this, and she was oddly ashamed to have intruded as much as she just did with a man as private as Sifu.
She realized that she was just standing there, looking at the little monk, so she glanced up into John's concerned eyes and smiled behind her mask. "I think we managed to stop the bleeding in time, John, no sign of damage. Let's get the dura sewn up, then we can close. "
The remainder of the procedure was painstaking: tiny sutures bringing the tough dura back together to once again hide the brain beneath it's grey veil. The dura was necessarily tough, and it took both strength and delicacy to pierce the dura without approaching the fragility beneath. By the time that was done and the little circle of bone set back in place, Willow felt as if she'd been running a marathon.
"Can you suture the scalp back into place, my dear?" Willow asked of John, "an opportunity to see your handiwork, in case I should need it." Her tone was light, but her limbs were heavy with weariness.
Posted on 2013-01-21 at 00:08:39.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Definitely in threes
OOC: Making adjustments for the timeline:
Rocinante Cargo Bay, 8:32 pm ST
"Ahiro? Oh my of course. Sunipta. It has been awhile. I hope your family is well." Portia smiled icily, "I had heard that you were struggling with finding a vocation. I see you have found a place to ply both of your half-done trades. Good for you."
If Willow was bothered by the shot, her face didn't show it; Portia Amber's waspishness was legendary. The rebellious streak in her couldn't resist, however, so it was with wide eyed guile that she replied," Well, I'm still young and have options. I don't have to marry my fortune. Excuse me, Ms. Amber-sama, I'll - oh, hello Sunshine...how are you, my dear?"
The young lady in question had been rebuffed by John, and had drifted back between Portia and Willow to stand very close to the ship's doctor."I’m Amber Sunshine. Are you a doctor? I think I need to be examined very thoroughly. You got someplace ... private we could go?” she continued.
Willow blinked a bit in surprise; young Amber hadn't been this...sexually forward when they'd been younger, and she'd never shown any inclination towards other girls. Something in her eyes made Willow take her hand and guide her gently away from her mother (who showed no interest or concern whatsoever for her daughter). The girl was glassy eyed and sweating slightly, despite the customary chill of the cargo bay. Under her fingers, Willow could feel the girl's pulse; it was strong, but just a touch faster than it should have been, even accounting for the excitement and fear she should have been feeling.
"What have you taken?" Willow asked the girl softly, so her voice wouldn't carry to the elder Amber. "You've had a bit too much, love, we'd better get you to the infirmary so we can bring you down. Was it dust? How much did you have?"
Circling carefully around masses of passengers, Willow and Amber Sunshine were passing the cargo bay hatchway, Willow glancing down it reflexively, when she was startled to hear her proper name twice in one day.
"Sunipta? Is that really you?" Willow's jaw dropped almost comically as she found herself looking at a well dressed older man, who looked puzzled, then delighted to see her." Sunipta, my precious, the fates themselves brought us together...I knew we couldn't be parted. "
He'd grabbed both her forearms with more force than she'd ever accredit her former lover, though she'd not have recognized him but for his wave a few months ago. He was dressed well, but more flashily than she'd remembered his taste, and his facial skin was too tight for his age. She narrowed her gaze and looked at the too firm jaw, and spotted the faint traces of surgery. His hair was thicker than it was on the wave, proof of more surgery, and his expensive cologne was loaded with subtle pheromones. She found her body responding even as her mind raced. How did he have all this money? Willow loved her father, but knew full well that when Ahiro Takahara ruined a man, he was ruined . Cameron Bridges shouldn't have had a single credit, and here he was all but wearing a crown.
Too bright teeth flashed a smile that faded into a puzzled grimace as Cameron looked around, without letting go of Willow, " I don't understand, Sunni, what are you doing here? You really turned me down for...this?"
Willow couldn't answer, the ship rippled beneath her feet before she heard the explosion; already off balance from being grabbed by Bridges, she fell into his arms, and he stumbled, pulling her to the floor as he fell.
She used her Aikido lessons to use his fall to her advantage, landing on him and using her hands to push herself back up The multiple forces caused the breath to whoosh from his lungs, and he stayed down, gasping like a fish out of water. She scrambled to her feet in time to see Sifu fall from the stairway to land heavily on the cold metal of the cargo bay floor. She left all grace behind as she grabbed Sunshine by the arm to pull the girl through the crowd to where her passenger lay still.
She let go of her unprotesting companion long enough to drop to her knees by Sifu's side, and pulled on another pair of gloves. Carefully, she examined the gash on the side of his head; it was bleeding freely, but the wound itself didn't look severe enough to be the cause of Sifu's unconsciousness. She delicately lifted an eyelid and confirmed her worst fear: the pupil was completely open, the black engulfing the brown iris.
"We need to get him to the infirmary. NOW!" Willow called, then looked around at the people milling around. "You, and...you there!" she commanded two men who were of the same relative height, and made the mistake of catching her eyes," grab that backboard up against the wall and bring it here. I need you to carry this man where I tell you, and keep him perfectly level. His feet cannot be higher than his head... don'ma? "
"John?! Prep for surgery, stat! Meet you in the infirmary!" Willow gathered her skirts and got back to her feet, a young woman in a shimmering gold and silver confection of an evening gown neatly stepping out of her way as she did so. Willow glanced at her quickly, noting the briefcase and a flash of brandy brown eyes, but was too worried about Sifu to take much notice.
“Is… he going to be ok?” the girl asked, and Willow glanced at her again, remembering she'd seen Sifu tending to her earlier. His neat bandage was still firmly in place on the girl's head, and Willow felt the bitter taste of irony on her tongue.
"I don't know," Willow answered simply as she directed the men to lift Sifu slowly and evenly."We'll know more once I get him to the infirmary.
Posted on 2012-11-25 at 03:45:50.
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Topic: A new Innmate!
Subject: Congrats to you both
And Teslyn is a lovely name
Posted on 2012-11-10 at 20:19:19.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: As promised
Willow had left Portia Amber sitting on a crate in a quiet corner of the cargo bay; the woman's handsome features marred by a frown of thought. She was either coming up with her next set of complaints or trying to remember where on the social register the Takaharas were in relation to her. In either case, she wasn't making a scene, and Willow could return to assessing injuries. She frowned for a moment, realizing she'd lost track of Amber Sunshine, then spotted her with John Ryan.
"Merciful Buddha," she thought to herself, changing one set of medical gloves for another," I hope John knows well enough to not sample that bit of candy - Portia will have his head, and other sundry body parts! He's a grown man, I'm sure he's fine."
She put the matter from her mind, peering down the hatchway to see if there any more passengers boarding, and saw the backs of two ship security guards heading back into the crippled ship, Lord Hood waving at them to come back. The distraction meant she'd missed the last passenger to board, but he'd spotted her.
"Sunipta? Is that really you?" Willow's jaw dropped almost comically as she found herself looking at a well dressed older man, who looked puzzled, then delighted to see her." Sunipta, my precious, the fates themselves brought us together...I knew we couldn't be parted. "
He'd grabbed both her forearms with more force than she'd ever accredit her former lover, though she'd not have recognized him but for his wave a few months ago. He was dressed well, but more flashily than she'd remembered his taste, and his facial skin was too tight for his age. She narrowed her gaze and looked at the too firm jaw, and spotted the faint traces of surgery. His hair was thicker than it was on the wave, proof of more surgery, and his expensive cologne was loaded with subtle pheromones. She found her body responding even as her mind raced. How did he have all this money? Willow loved her father, but knew full well that when Ahiro Takahara ruined a man, he was ruined . Cameron Bridges shouldn't have had a single credit, and here he was all but wearing a crown.
Too bright teeth flashed a smile that faded into a puzzled grimace as Cameron looked around, without letting go of Willow, " I don't understand, Sunni, what are you doing here? You really turned me down for...this?"
Willow couldn't answer, the ship rippled beneath her feet before she heard the explosion; already off balance from being grabbed by Bridges, she fell into his arms, and he stumbled, pulling her to the floor as he fell.
“Get back here now!” Willow hears Lord Hood shout distantly, but she hears the automatic safety system shut the doorway to the airlock with a resounding thud.
Another explosion rocks the ship as it pulls away from the liner, and then all hell breaks loose as the Star of Sihnon is engulfed in a series of cascading explosions.
Posted on 2012-11-04 at 02:48:30.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: A wee bit from me
As the cargo bay hatch opened, Willow took in a deep cleansing breath and raised her chin, her dancer's stance making her appear both regal and welcoming at the same time. As the mass of formerly well dressed humanity swelled towards her, Willow began speaking, using her performer's skills to project her voice without seeming to shout, using smiles and graceful arm gestures to direct the crowd.
"Welcome aboard, everyone, come in, come in. Keep moving in, there's a dear, and clear the way for those behind you. If you're hurt, come alongside here and we'll have a look, otherwise, let's get everyone aboard before we get sorted, shall we?"
Willow spotted Lord Christopher Hood pause in helping those around him to catch an older military man from falling. The two exchanged quiet words, and the military man promptly straightened up and took over shepherding the crowd, albeit in a somewhat confusing manner. Lord Hood stayed beside him, re-directing people correctly. Willow nodded her thanks to both of them and turned to address the relatively minor injuries of her new charges. Fortunately, John and Fu Sheng were already dealing with some of the injured, and she thanked the Buddha for her blessings.
She'd assessed the group around her and had already taken care of the worst injuries when she overheard a waspish command from the hatchway. She looked up to see Portia Amber striding onto the ship in her usual forceful manner, demanding to speak to the Captain. Willow knew that it would take just one such scene to tip many of the others to remembering how important they were, so she excused herself from the young man with the freshly bandaged arm to glide up alongside the imperious woman.
"So get me the captain so I can arrange quarters immediately for my daughter and I. After all, do you know who I am?!
"Of course I do, Portia Amber-sama, you have often honoured the Takahara home with your presence, along with your husband. I am so sorry for your loss, "Willow put her hands on her thighs to bow respectfully, her head bowing deep enough to show respect, but not subordinance," How lovely to see you again, it's Sunipta Takahara, Ahiro's daughter. I will be certain to pass along any greetings you may have for him." Willow's tone was gracious and respectful, but was assuredly firm.
"As for accomodations, I can certainly understand your concern, and we'll address them as soon as we have a moment. Would you like to sit over here, where you won't be bothered...or perhaps you'd like to wait back on the ship, in case something more suitable comes along? No? I supposed not, you are as wise as my father always said you are! Please, make yourself comfortable, Ms. Amber-sama."
OOC: More to come - it's late!
Posted on 2012-11-02 at 03:34:33.
Edited on 2012-11-04 at 02:00:35 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: On Your Mark...
Willow waited in the cargo bay with Fu Sheng, outwardly calm but her mind racing through triage protocols. It took discipline to only spend enough time per person to assess their needs, and even more discipline to not spend precious supplies on someone who was dying. Only once before had Willow had to make that kind of decision, and she'd been distraught for days.
Jade eyes strayed over to the compact enigma beside her, and she remembered his words of just a few moments ago. A jug fills drop by drop, Takahara Shao Jeh, let us not worry about a want of space until our jug is near full and these drops we fill it with start to spill over. There was something child-like about the man, an innocence of spirit, yet a depth of wisdom that was hard won. Somehow, Willow wanted to be a better person than she was, so as not to disappoint him.
"We'll deal with each drop," she said determinedly, though it could have been to herself or Fu Sheng, she spoke so softly," as long as we draw breath...that reminds me!" Two quick strides took her to the comm.
"Mr. Wolf, dear? " her voice sounded in the engine room," we're heading in to take on 40 casualties, though it's a big ship and we may end up with more. We'll be needing more air than we're currently producing."
Posted on 2012-10-27 at 20:48:41.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Umm - any ranchers on board?
We are about to be overrun with a herd of scared cattle, I mean people, and we need to herd them along as deep into the ship, and divert the injured to Willow.
Seems to me that anyone not steering the ship or shoveling coal into the firebox (sorry, we watch a lot of Thomas, here) should be in the cargo bay helping to direct traffic.
FWIW, Willow was told 40 casualties, not 40 able bodied passengers. She's kind of expecting people to be limping in or being carried in, so this will be...interesting, to say the least.
Posted on 2012-10-22 at 02:10:23.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Editing posts
None of us mind waiting a bit for a post, but once people start posting after you, please don't go back and add to your posts - too easy to miss. Better to add a short new post where everyone will see it
Just my experience here 
Posted on 2012-10-21 at 13:45:37.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Paging Dr. Takahara
Early into the Journey
Once Rocinante was loaded and Willow had collected her share of hugs and kisses to keep her warm against the Black, it was time to leave. The first few minutes of the voyage were spent with Fu Sheng, getting him settled and introducing him to the rest of the crew. The small man had seemed truly happy with the small passenger berth, waving away her apologies with a smile and a gracious bow.
"If I may be so forward, Cheung Si Fu, it has been quite some time since I have been able to spend any time with someone of the Sangha (monastic community of Bhuddist monks). If it would not disturb you, might I join you in your devotions, sometime? I am always open to hearing another's interpretation of scripture. "
A day or so into the Journey
After some repeated prodding by Willow, John Ryan had finally made his way to the medical bay for his check in and medical history. Willow had looked up from her checklist for the emergency kit and smiled crookedly at him.
"About time, John Ryan, I was thinking you were avoiding me. Shirt off and up onto the bed, there's a good fellow. "
For all her playful words, Willow's manner and voice, once she began, were carefully impersonal. She carefully measured heart rate and body temperature, shone lights into eyes, ears and throat, and methodically took notes as she asked about prior illnesses, injuries, and treatments. Had she been a fully licensed doctor, she could have gotten all this online, but as it was, she found it better to hear people tell her themselves. Sometimes, how a person related their life told her more than the details themselves.
He'd told her little beyond some bare details, and she was glad to learn that the ship's new tech wizard also had some medical training to go with the piloting skills. The tattoo on his back was the emblem of the med evac ship he'd flown, but John had said little else after that. The fine red blood vessels in his eyes and the tension in his shoulders gave her a hint, though. Closing her eyes and putting a gloved hand on his back, she pressed gently and concentrated....there! The almost discernible tremor of deep fatigue.
Willow opened her eyes and stripped off her gloves before making a note on her chart. She then made a point of locking the chart in her cabinet before turning back to face her patient.
"You look rested enough, John Ryan, but you're not. Not by a long shot. I don't know how long you've been taking something to help you sleep, but you can't do it indefinitely. I don't make it a habit to intervene if it's not needed, and it's not. Not yet," her stern look softened.
"But when you're ready, I'm here. In the meantime, there are relaxation exercises that can help - maybe you'd need less to drop off.
Third Day into the Journey
Willow was brushing out her hair (100 strokes, every day) when the Captain announced that Alliance was coming aboard. Moving quickly, she hastened to the cargo bay, unbound hair flowing behind her, and strategically placed herself in front of one of the lights in the cargo bay. When the Alliance began to search the bay, the lights were turned on, shining through the sheer material of Willow's sari. From past experience, she'd learned the exact position in the light that revealed nothing, but suggested everything, but in the end, it didn't matter. The team didn't give the cargo a second look (though Willow gathered her share) and soon left the ship.
Seventh Day into the Journey
In the infirmary, Willow is humming an old ballad to herself while watching a blue bar on the diagnostic machine slowly lengthen. She never understood why the system couldn't do this without her, but she was supposed to tap a registration number in at a key point, and it wouldn't run if she took too long to key it in.
Suddenly, the blue bar vanished, and Willow blinked. "Where's the blue bar? There has to be a blue bar. Oh no you don't, you cursed machine....don't you fail me now..."
"Zzztttzzttztztz.....Mayday! Mayday....Zztztztztz. This is the Star of Sihnon ... zzttzz ... liner...zzztzttzt ...please help."
Willow covered her ears against the static, which mercifully faded back somewhat almost immediately.
"This is the Star of Sihnon Cruise Liner. We are badly damaged by internal explosion. Starboard escape pods are lost. There are not enough for all passengers. We need help! In the name of Buddha, God and the 'verse please can someone hear me!!!!"
"Evenin'," Wyatt's voice came over the shipwide com. "This'll be your captain speakin'. It looks like we might be havin' a few guests fer supper t'night, so let's make preparations accordingly."
Willow closed her eyes and muttered a quick prayer to Buddha, then knew matters were in her hands. She pulled on her white coat and a pair of gloves, shoving multiple pairs into both pockets of the coat. She hit the reset button on the diagnostic machine, knowing she'd need it soon enough, then began dumping all the bandages, suture kits and dermaplast sprays she could into the emergency kit she'd sling across herself. She picked up one of the back boards used to move injured people and headed to the cargo bay when Fu Sheng met her at the door to the infirmary.
“Takahara Shao Jeh,” he said, “Should we bring on any injured, I have some small knowledge of healing if I might be of any use to you…”
“Expect at least 40 casualties, I’ll be done once we dock with the cruise liner.” came John's voice over the comm, and Willow's worried eyes met Fu Sheng's.
"Forty? Where are we going to put them all?" she whispered, then her voice firmed into a doctor's assured command." Understood, John. As soon as you can, join us in the cargo bay for triage. Si Fu, thank you. I will take any pair of trained hands I can. Please grab another one of these boards and come to the cargo bay. We'll need to assess the injuries and set everyone into a stream for treatment - those who can wait, those who can't, and those we can only make more comfortable. Are you able to handle that ?"
Willow didn't wait for a response. Her heart was racing, and she knew she was in for a long day, but it had been a very long time since the ER....
Posted on 2012-10-21 at 03:52:34.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Picture worth a thousand words
Just in case you don't know what a salwar kameez looks like:
Salwar is the pants - which can be baggy, boxy or slim fitting, and the kameez is the long tunic.
Posted on 2012-10-14 at 02:51:59.
Edited on 2012-10-14 at 11:37:56 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Ooooo, a date!
The Dew Drop Inn. Beaumonde, Two months later
The last few months had gone by quickly, the flurry of small jobs keeping the ship hopping, and Willow negotiating the next deal while collecting payment for the last. The farmers (she was dealing with different ones each time, but there was always previous customers among the group loading or unloading) were shrewd bargainers, but Willow got a sense that Willow could have simply named her price, as long as it was reasonable.
For the walk to the Dew Drop Inn, Willow had chosen her simplest salwar kameez, the red and gold fabric moving easily as she walked, yet she still felt every eye on her as they entered. Farmers and ranchers being the quiet folk most of them were, went back to their drinks and card games quickly enough once they were satisfied the Rocinante crew were welcome.
Willow, Wyatt and Tess were joined by Sheriff Justice and three farmers Willow had done spoken to before while negotiating with other farmers; Della, Dee-Lar, and Jake. They'd each seemed nice enough, but were from far enough away that they'd not hired Rocinante for anything. Until now. Over drinks of tea and spirits (Willow gamely nursing a hideous champagne the Sheriff insisted on getting for her), the three men braced themselves, and Della spoke.
“We have a cargo that we like to ship to Deadwood. I ummm well ...”
“Oh gorram it Della!” said Jake, “Just tell them! We’re all business men here.”
"Jake, honey, " Willow interjected, putting her hand on Jake's arm and eliciting a bashful smile from the big man, "let Della tell us his own way."
Della smiled, “Yeah. Right. We want to ship 5 tanks of liquid Avri-Grow to Deadwood. Now that’s illegal, by Alliance law that is.”
Sheriff snorted, “Don’t worry about me son. I take care of my people and town and that keeps me plenty busy without keep up with purple belly nonsense.”
“We can buy Avri-Grow, we can even use it on Deadwood but transport is strictly illegal.” Della explained
“Since it can be used as a mix for a explosive.”Del-Lar added, “I don’t have to tell you that you could get ten times the price for this than we can pay you to ship. From the Black market of course.”
“But that is why we turn to you Captain Wyatt and Miss Willow. You have done us rightly and we know you won’t play that way against us.” Jake said. “So you won’t get into trouble, we arranged to transport a bunch of foodstuffs to an orphanage nearby. Fu Sheng is here as a representative from the orphanage.”
Willow looked as the small man who'd been silent after an initial greeting stood and bowed to each in turn, greeting them formally.
“Sung Chuan Zung, Takahara Shao Jeh, Zhao Shao Jeh, Buddha’s blessings upon you all. I am honored to make the acquaintance of such right-minded spirits."
Willow found herself shivering, just a little. As peaceful as his smile and eyes were, Fu Sheng moved like a sleepy tiger, his feet planted firmly and his weight perfectly centered. Willow might have been a student on the non-combative martial arts, but here was a clear master of the deadliest skills.
"As Jake Shian Shen has already said, I am Cheung Fu Sheng, a disciple of the Zhi Yi Quan… the Order of the Dispersing Fist. We are an order of… ah… I’m sorry,” still smiling, the little monk bowed apologetically, “A lesson on my order’s history is beside the point. Suffice it to say that, through my order, Buddha’s grace has had me serving as a… physical education instructor at the Moriah Gulch Orphanage on Deadwood these past years…”
“He teaches them kids kung fu,” Della interjected, nodding over the rim of his mug.
“He teaches ‘em more than that,” Jake added, swatting at Della, “Now shush. You’re bein’ rude.”
“Jake Shian Shen (Mister Jake),” Fu Sheng continued, not acknowledging the compliments from the farmers, “and the others near us have been more than gracious… more than charitable… to the orphanage over those years and, as such, Buddha’s wisdom has led me to repay some of their kindnesses by offering my services in this venture. Helping to secret a shipment home that will surely benefit us all in the end is the least I might do…”
“I assure you, Sung Chuan Zung,” Fu Sheng added, “I will be as unobtrusive as I can while aboard your ship and, of course, will gladly offer my assistance wherever you might find it useful.”
“We are offering 2,500 credits up front if you do this and another 5,000 when you land on Deadwood with goods intact.” Del-Lar pipes up. “Plus we will fuel you before you leave here and after when you on Deadwood. “
Willow looked at Tess and Wyatt, getting a subtle nod from Wyatt to continue. "Money's not much to us if we're boarded or blown up," she began smoothly. "And while having a passenger aboard means you trust it's stable enough to transport, how do I know we won't accidentally set it off? What does it take to make it go boom, if I may ask?"
Willow may have seemed to be beginning negotiations, but the slender woman watched each man closely without seeming to. Body language might tell her if they knew more about Avri-Grow's darker uses than farmers should.
Posted on 2012-10-13 at 18:45:33.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: *blink, blink*
Bromern? That you? You're alive!
Posted on 2012-10-13 at 18:01:11.
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