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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Nicely done!
A stranger in a strange land...I like it
Posted on 2012-10-12 at 02:35:00.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Another bit - had to work late
Higgin’s Moon, a few days later
Willow watched from the depths of the cargo bay as the rest of the crew stood on the gangway proper. She'd mentioned to the Captain that there was a remote possibility that she might be recognized by the magistrate, if he'd chosen to intervene in the reunion , and she didn't want to chance having the Guild pulled into their affairs.
These remote planets of dubious social opportunities usually have powerful people as Guild clients, and while Companions choose their clients, apprentices don't. I can't tell you if the magistrate here was a client, nor if he ever saw my profile, but we don't want to risk him recognizing me if we did. I don't know that my negotiating skills are needed here anyway.
Now, as the families embraced , Willow was glad she was far enough back that she could let the tears welling up in her eyes spill down. She'd spent as much time with the farmers on the way out as she could; keeping their spirits up, listening to their stories and looking at treasured photographs, and to see their hopes realized now was almost too much happiness to be held within one silken kimono
Not that there hadn't been tense moments. The magistrate hadn't lowered himself to deal with such a mundane matter, but he had sent his lawyer to talk with the sheriff and there was some protracted legal talk thrown about. Willow was considering how to intervene when Asher and Wolf, bless them both, brought out every single gun that they owned and began cleaning them slowly and carefully within sight of the overdressed mouthpiece. Willow promised herself that both were going to get a good hard hug later.
As the families came aboard and the Higgin's Moon staff moved back from the gangway, Willow brushed away her happy tears and got to work - there were people to get settled, and Willow wanted the chance to check everyone over after their ordeal in the mudpits.
Later, as the families get home and they head back to their farms, Willow collects her share of hugs and fond farewells. She makes sure to get contact information from each of the farmers and follows up on any of the family members that had gotten sick of hurt on Higgin's Moon. The farmers seem grateful, and as a result, Rocinante gets a flurry of odd jobs that keep the ledger in black ink, if only just.
Posted on 2012-10-10 at 03:15:19.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Spotted that ;)
Willow's hardly the celibate type, and her vows took her in a completely different direction 
I guess, what we're getting at is nothing between crew, nothing on ship (unless it's two passengers...Captain could hardly prevent that) and anything else is...off camera. 
Posted on 2012-10-10 at 01:52:42.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: A bit from me
Meeting and Greeting
“Well, Miss Willow, I might’n be takin’ ya up on that tour a little bit later, seein’ as how I better get this girl landed back at port first. Up for discussin’ some stress relievin’ techniques a little later too?” Tess smiled and winked.
Willow laughed at Tess' response - not the silvery tinkling laugh for clients, the deeper chuckle that came from deep within - and ducked her head sheepishly, cheeks colouring faintly.
"Of course, land Rocinante, by all means. We weren't tucking and rolling anymore; I must have thought we were safe aground," Willow looked up with eyes twinkling.
As the three made their way around the ship, Willow made a point of introducing the crew and pointing out the quarters that were available and those that were taken, as well as telling little stories about the ship and crew to make the two newcomers feel at home.
Rocinante, Common room, The Evening after the auditions
Willow sighed happily as Trish passed around honey rice balls (Willow's favourite!) while everyone gathered around the vid screen. She was curled up on one of the plush pillows from her room, colourful skirts arrayed around her, nibbling fastidiously at the sticky treat to make it last as long as possible, and only paid half attention to the news feed. That is, until the last piece...
Successful farmer and local philanthropist, Yardiff Bey was killed today in a Barbeque accident.”
Willow watched closely as the story unfolded, the news reporter's version contrasting with what Wyatt had later told Willow of the conversations picked up from the comms. It wouldn't have been the first time a crook tried to buy his way into legitimacy, but it could mean trouble for the crew if Bey was mourned by the locals.
As Asher and the others snickered at the mummer's play behind the reporter's oblivious back, Willow worried.
Eisley Moss Spaceport, the next day, late afternoon
Willow and Wyatt were in the cargo bay, discussing the merits of leaving as quickly as possible versus leaving with a paying load when the cargo bay door boomed with the sound of a fist hitting it. Wyatt moved forward and hit the switch to open the door, putting himself between the door and Willow in a way that made her love him all that much more. She peered around Wyatt's protective shoulder to see the sheriff from last night's newscast standing there with four haunted looking men.
“Good day sir, Ma’am.” the man introduced himself with genuine pleasure, not the false friendliness of a LEO on the job, “I’m Sheriff Buford T. Justice. That’s right – justice. My Ma always said that with a name like justice, best be a lawman, so here I am, just like my daddy and his daddy before him. But I ain’t here for law business, not with you at least. Would you be looking for hire?”
Willow smiled despite her worry and stepped out from behind Wyatt to extend her hand, losing it in the sheriff's enormous paw. "We could be, Sheriff - it depends on what you're looking to have us do."
“Good. Glad to hear. It ain’t a big job, the five of us to Higgin’s moon and then twice as many coming back with us. We can stomach hammocks if you must.”
"Higgin's Moon? Pardon me, Sheriff, but we're not prison transport and not many that head that way come back with more people than when they left. It's usually a one way trip."
“Well you see, there was a man around here named Yardiff Bey. He wasn’t a nice man although you will find folk around here who say differently. Back a few years ago, Bey wanted these men’s land and they wouldn’t sell. They knew a snake when they saw one so they refused despite the price. So Bey had their families taken. Yeah, you heard me right, take in the night and no trace of where. Just a threat that if they didn’t sell for half the price now, they’d never come back. They sold, did what he said and didn’t tell me. But Bey sold their families off as slaves, warning these men that if they stirred up trouble, then the families would meet with an unfortunate accident. You know, I have been a lawman for a long time and I am still always surprised at how men will treat other men for money. Anyway, Bey met with a ...” The sheriff drifts off as if searching for a word but his eyes flash mischievously, “an unfortunate accident the other day – you may have seen it on the news? Gas leak my Aunt Fanny! He messed with someone who could handle themselves. Wish I could shake their hand actually. Anyway. I got the paperwork here that tells me where the families are, and proving their unlawful in-den-ture-ment. If you could fly us there and back, I’m footing the bill and ...well I’d take it as a personal kindness. I know people who wished I owed them a favour, believe you me.”
Willow's smile slipped briefly as the sheriff told his tale and she gently extricated her hand from the Sheriff's grip - he'd been holding her hand as if he's forgotten he had it. "Well, having the favour of the local law's never a bad thing for a roving transport, wouldn't you agree, Captain-san? As for getting back your families," and here Willow turned to look at the men behind the sheriff, her arms lifting slightly as if to embrace them," I'm sure we'd be happy to help. What a horrible time of it you must have all had!"
OOC: More later, this was too long to post all at once. I've a sleepy boy to wake and a house to clean before the next wave of Thanksgiving meals.
Posted on 2012-10-08 at 15:46:42.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Wonderful post-ages :)
Alacrity and I are hosting my family for Thanksgiving, so it's a cleaning and cooking day here, but i hope to get a post written tomorrow
Posted on 2012-10-07 at 17:42:59.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Welcome aboard
Willow didn't mind flying. She'd had her share of daring moves thanks to Sam's skills in the past, and she'd experienced them here in the shuttle more than a few times, while prepping for an emergency evacuation. It hadn't happened often in atmosphere, with gravity, though, and so the slender Companion tried to not pay attention to the gyrating horizon as various alarms and dials vied for her attention.
The stomach dropping sensation of free fall was hard to ignore, however, and Willow gasped as Rocinante drifted over a house and firepit before the engines roared anew and thrust Willow back into her seat. The ship climbed, the sun dazzling Willow's eyes before a flash and boom from below told her the missiles had found a new target.
The ship levelled off as the klaxon finally fell silent, leaving Willow's ears ringing and her nerves tingling. She gave herself a good shake, laughing a bit at the release of tension and fear before powering down the shuttle.
She made her way to the cockpit, but managed to miss Wyatt's departure, finding the two strangers sharing a grin. Knowing Wyatt would not have left them alone in the nerve center of Rocinante if they weren't now crew, Willow smiled and cocked her head to the side.
"I'm guessing Captain-san's hired you both, given we likely owe you our lives, so welcome! I take it you've heard about shares and room and board? He tell you anything else?"
OOC: Assuming a bemused response in the negative from either John or Tess
Willow rolled her jade eyes and shook her head, the long braid behind her swinging with every motion. "Of course not! Leaves me the not so glamorous details! Well, there's not much. Room and board means just that - we've got bunks and crew quarters and I'll show you around in a bit. You can take your pick of the available quarters and if you both like the same quarters...we'll discuss, " her smile widened.
"I'm Willow Takahara, by the way, ship's medic and, well, negotiator's as good a word as any. Captain-san's got the final word on any job we take, but I do my level best to ensure each trip's profitable, and people just seem to like talking to me, " Willow's nose crinkled as she said that, removing any haughtiness her words implied.
"As medic, however, I'll ask that you come see me once you're settled for a full physical and medical history. I keep all such info confidential, and won't comment on any regrettable tattoos or such, but I do need to know what I'm starting from in the event of an emergency. Board includes medical care, and I'll keep you whole and healthy as best I can. That includes vaccinations for any, ah...shore leave.
Which brings me to my last point before the tour," and here, Willow's demeanour sobered." We're a mixed crew, as you've seen, and it's a small ship that flies for long periods of time. We're all grownups, but jealousies and misunderstandings can fester when a good thing goes bad out in the Black....so if you do come aboard, it's as if you're working with siblings and Aunties... don ma?
OOC: Leaving room for responses but will assume agreement.
"Excellent! What you do on shore leave is up to you, and again," Willow's dimples returned and her eyes twinkled," I can keep secrets and always have a few ideas I can share for stress relief. Shall we take that tour now? "
Posted on 2012-10-04 at 03:53:52.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: How...inspiring ;)
This is gonna be fun...
Sigh: This is so like the Captain...hires on crew and doesn't tell anybody else...man takes brevity to a whole new level
Posted on 2012-10-04 at 02:33:12.
Edited on 2012-10-04 at 02:50:32 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Sorry!
I'm trying to wrestle work back into a semblance of normalcy, but projects are like little kids on a field trip: focus on one too long and a few others are bound to wander off....
Posted on 2012-10-03 at 03:18:53.
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Topic: Another Staff Member Birthday
Subject: Thanks Tann...
But given that our own MMV is sixteen, and Alacrity and I just celebrated our 21st Anniversary, I'm a wee bit past 25
Posted on 2012-09-30 at 19:51:45.
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Topic: A Sad Anniversary
Subject: Missed indeed
Ye Olde struck me as a kindred spirit immediately, so i was so pleased when he was able to join Rocinante...we had so little idea of how short a time we'd have together. I take comfort that our games here helped him through a difficult time, and we are all pleased to have a place we can call our virtual home.
I'll drink a toast to Ye Olde, tonight. Alacrity would join me , but he's playing tabletop tonight...so he's celebrating in his own way.
Posted on 2012-09-27 at 01:36:22.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: I'm a doctor, not a pilot...wait..not really a doctor, either
With the would-be pilot dealt with, Willow felt a small glow of satisfaction at how well the two strangers and her crew acted to protect Rocinante. Perhaps one of the two would have the flying skills they needed, but for now, there was a kitchen awash in broth...and more flying would mean the mess would be spread farther. Willow shared her glorious smile with the two strangers as thanks, then made her way back to the galley, and tucking the sari's voluminous pleats and folds up out of the way, set to cleaning up.
Usha would have been aghast, but Willow had spent more time with the servants who'd raised her than her famous mother and busy father. It had seemed silly to sit and watch as her friends worked, so she'd joined in. Now, she made short work of the spilled soup, though the stock pot had a dent that would have to be hammered out.
Suddenly, the klaxon rang out, and Willow stopped, her eyes flying to Trish, who'd just entered, a freshly cleaned Bessie in hand.
“I highly suggest ya’ll hold onto sumthing. This might’n be an Angel of Death,” Tess slammed her hand into the shipwide comm, “Hope you boys is ready down in engineerin’. Things might’n be gittin’ a little dicey.”
Willow dropped the beleagured stock pot into the sink, likely earning it another dent, and scrambled to the port shuttle, knowing without looking that Trish was headed in the opposite direction. They'd drilled for this, at both the Captain's and her insistence; him because he was cautious and a pessimist, and she because she knew drills were the best way to overcome the fear that washed over her and robbed her of rationale thought. She was headed to the shuttle, but her mind was cowering in a closet during a thunderstorm.
She reached the shuttle and fell into the pilot's chair, staring blankly at the controls before she spotted the clipboard hanging beside the console. Panic receded a bit as she held onto the clipboard, something solid and comforting, and ran her eyes down the list she knew by heart. It steadied her, and she was able to move through the pre-flight preparations with a semblance of calm.
Something out the viewport caught Willow's eye, smoke in the distance. Surrounded on all sides by flowers, the smoke was a black stain in the air. She toggled the comm to the bridge.
"Captain-san," she pleased herself with the steadiness of her voice," It could be nothing, but there's smoke off the port side. Seems odd, all the way out here. Might have something to do with our, ah, predicament. "
Posted on 2012-09-16 at 02:21:12.
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Topic: Villain traits
Subject: Charisma
Make the characters hate him/her, but the players love him/her.
Posted on 2012-09-14 at 03:29:53.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Relax....
Alacrity will decide what happens and what doesn't, so you haven't overstepped unless he decides you have.
Not sure how many of us still get to play tabletop style, but online posting is much like playing through combat in tabletop. In each round, you can elaborate upon how you perceive your environment, your actions and your reactions, but consider that you really can only take on action before you would normally need to roll for initiative again.
Does that help at all? Rounds are only used in combat in tabletop, but using the concept in online posting, with rounds being as long as it takes to complete an action, can be useful in guiding you in posting.
BTW, all of you have had some amazing interactions that you arranged here in QnA then posted into the game, so I didn't want to insert myself too intrusively afterwards. I did make sure I established where I was during the pre-flight and flight, so feel free to notice the lovely Asian woman in the sari 
Posted on 2012-09-03 at 13:39:02.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Stop jerking my heart (and the rest of me) around
Willow had been too upset to sit through any more pilot interviews, and, in any case, it looked like Wyatt had decided to let two applicants progress to the next stage. One was the lanky man Willow had seen before her wave, Gator, and the other was a woman, small but with a quality about her that made her seem bigger. From off to the side, at the console, Willow sharpened her study, taking in posture and body language. There was an intensity about the woman that made the air around her nearly hum. Willow nodded to herself, and stood up to leave, catching Wyatt's eye before angling her head towards the woman and nodding slightly.
If that girl puts her mind to something, nothing else in entire Black exists until the job's done. That would be the opposite of twitchy, and a bit more of what we need
She ignored the lance of pain that even a passing thought of Sam caused and made her way to the galley. She knew Auntie had intended to make a big batch of broth with as much as the fresh veggies bought on Beaumonde, and some slicing and dicing was a perfect activity for her hands while she thought about her wave.
Trish brightened to see Willow come to help, but the older woman saw the troubled expression on the doctor's face. She tilted her questioningly, but when Willow shook her head, Trish shrugged and pushed a cutting board and a mound of onions Willow's way. Willow was the delicate flower of the crew, smiles and tears equally just below the surface, but she was somehow impervious to onion fumes and could chop away dry-eyed.
Tackling the first big onion, taking a sniff at it's dust-dry paper skin and sweet white flesh within, WIllow thought about the wave she'd received. Cameron Bridges. Her first lover who'd hadn't been a boy her own age. It had been exciting and illicit - sneaking away to be together, and thrilling to be in the arms of someone with experience. To know that she could seduce a man of the world, and have him just as eager to bed her as the boys and girls among the servants...it had been an intoxicating time.
Until they'd been caught. Her father had been furious, though you had to know him to see it beneath his customary glacial calm. He'd simply asked Willow to go to her room, and it was only afterwards that she'd heard that Cameron Bridges had been banned from the house, fired from his position at Father's company and that no one was allowed to speak his name. She heard later, from servants that forgot the ban over time, that Bridges had been ruined financially, and although no one knew why, he'd been dropped from everyone's invite list; a social death knell for anyone who used connections to do business. Willow didn't see her father again for over a month (not that it was unusual; he travelled extensively for business) and when he did, he's acted as if nothing had happened. She'd tried to apologize, to ask about Cameron, but he'd simply stared her down.
Willow shook off that uncomfortable memory, then realized that she was still shaking. Rocinante was airborne, but she didn't feel right. There was a sudden drop in the pit of Willow's stomach, then a push against her spine as someone sent Rocinante off at high speed.
"What kind of a test drive is this," Willow asked Trish with some asperity, "Wyatt didn't say anything about strapping in or...Auntie! The soup! Look out!"
The stock pot has risen above the burner as they suddenly lost gravity, drifting sideways before crashing to the ground, spattering hot broth and protein nuggets everywhere. Trish had danced out of the way, but slammed her open hand down on the counter and ran out of the galley, heading for the cockpit, grabbing Bessie from the rack above the galley sink.
Willow dashed after her, realizing belatedly that she was still holding onto the big knife she'd been using on the onions. When the ship had lurched, she'd reversed her grip on the hilt without thinking so that the blade lay along her outer forearm. Am I bringing a knife to a gunfight?
Trish stopped suddenly as she reached the cockpit, bracing herself in a wide legged stance and bringing the shotgun to her shoulder in a practiced sweep. Willow barely skidded to a halt behind her as the would-be pilot stood up, only to be cold-cocked by the small woman with the goggles.
"Merciful Buddha," breathed Willow, "that's intense, alright."
Posted on 2012-09-02 at 21:49:21.
Edited on 2012-09-03 at 20:02:14 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Slipping into the timeline
Willow was...bored. She knew that finding a pilot to replace Sam (as if Sam could ever, ever be replaced!) was crucial, and they had a cargoload thanks to dear Dodger, but Willow was tired of sitting and reading the body language of one hopeful after another.
Maybe it was because she was put out at having to even replace Sam, but she didn't want to examine those feelings sitting her in front of others. Maybe it was simply her sore arms - her last Aikido practice hadn't gone as well as the others, and she'd failed to let go of Asher as she sent him flying...causing her own arms to feel wrenched and stretched. It was her own pride, really, and dear Asher had been so sweet about helping her up and apologizing. Definitely her pride that insisted on continuing onto the yoga session, but Asher had been doing so well she hadn't wanted to disappoint him.
She fanned herself idly with her fan, the ornate gold and black design casting light and shadow across her face and sighed. The last few candidates had not been anything special, though she'd been bothered by the one fellow who'd been more interested in the Rim than anywhere else. Captain had sent him away without even checking his pilot hours, which was fine by Willow. The rest had just been..odd. Some were clearly lying about their experience, or were running from something, and one poor wretch was so looped on dreamdust that Willow had wondered how he stayed upright.
Willow's reverie was interrupted by a flurry of cursing, floating all the way from the engine room. She listened idly and shook her head, smiling. "Come now, Mr. Wolf," she called back over her shoulder."Surely you can do better than that! I must teach you some Bengali curses, just for the sake of variety!"
She caught sight of Trish in the shadows, who pointed at her and made a rippling motion with her hand, telling Willow she had a wave. Willow excused herself, taking a quick look at the man called Gator and seeing nothing amiss.
She moved over to the console and thumbed the wave open. An older man looked back at her, his face brightening as he realized he was connected. His hair was thinning, but cleverly styled to conceal it. His clothes were well made, if a bit flashy for a man of his apparent age.
"Sunipta! My word...it has been a long time! You look...well, simply beautiful. It has been too long. I - I've missed you."
"Cameron-san!" Willow was startled, and took a quick look over her shoulder to see if anyone noticed. In a flash, she was but a girl again, worried about being caught by her father." It has been a long time. On purpose! What...what are you doing? Have you spoken to Father? " Willow blinked again, regaining a measure of her composure, "How is Anne Marie? And your daughters?"
"Anne Marie left me after ... the fuss. I haven't seen her or the girls in I don't know how long," the man's face sagged into bitter lines," and your father hasn't spoken to me, yet. It's not time - hell hasn't frozen over yet. "
"But none of that matters anymore, " he brightened again," I'm back. I'm a self made man, Sunipta, taking back everything that I lost. And I mean to make it up to you, for all the trouble I caused. I don't care what you're doing or where you've hared off to - I want you to join me. I have tickets to the Star of Sihnon. You must be my guest...I've sent you an e-brochure!"
Willow was taken aback. Even when she'd known him, Cameron Bridges had been a wealthy man, but not wealthy enough to afford the most expensive luxury cruiseliner ever made. As she considered this, the e-brochure loaded and overlaid Cameron's face with pictures of opulence and excess.
"Designed to be the most luxurious liner ever to ply the spaceways, the Star of Sihnon has more than managed to meet that goal. Catering only to the most exclusive of clientele of the already highly fashionable Five Star Line, this ship exudes luxury and craftsmanship from every surface. From the staterooms to the common areas, as if any portion of this exquisite ship could be considered "common", to even the crew quarters, the Star of Sihnon not only sets the standard of luxury, she is the standard by which all other liners must be measured..."
Willow thumbed the brochure closed exasperatedly, she was too confused to be distracted by all the pretties on display.
"I don't understand. Why are you doing this? We were a long time ago. A very long time ago. I was barely a woman, and you were my father's business partner. His best friend. I'm sorry, but no. Don't call me again, please."
"No, wait! Sunipta! Willow! You can't do this to m..." and Cameron's desperate face became a white dot on the screen.
Willow stared at the dark screen, lost in thought when the Captain's voice sounded behind her, with the tinny feedback of the mike, "Wolf. There's a test goin' on here. What's thisfeihua (nonsense)?"
Posted on 2012-08-21 at 01:42:05.
Edited on 2012-08-21 at 02:02:04 by Alacrity
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Loving it
Welcome back, Eol!
And Loki, welcome aboard
Posted on 2012-08-17 at 11:51:00.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: This kept getting longer and longer...
Regina, Frisco, Day Ten (Perhaps Day Eleven), Planet Time
Willow woke slowly, luxuriously, and a smile played upon her full lips. She felt good, really, really good and she began to stretch so that the good feeling could get all the way to her toes and fingertips. She had to stop when a weight stopped her, and her jade eyes flew open.
Lao Tsu lay beside her, on his stomach, one arm around her waist and his face buried against her neck. Her hair was wrapped around them both, as were the silk sheets of Tsu's bed. As she began to gently extricate herself, his arm tightened and he spoke against her neck.
"No. Not yet. Wait for morning. Please." Willow smiled and relaxed into his arms, wondering that the warm timbre of his voice still thrilled her. "I must be losing my touch", she murmured as Tsu raised his head to look at her, laugh lines deepening around his eyes," You aren't asking me to stay forever."
"I would if I thought it possible...but your eyes show that you have already left," he replied simply, before the smile came back, "Besides, don't I already owe somebody a year's income or some such award? "
"No, love, that was just two people comforting each other, nothing more nor less," Willow replied lightly, sitting up and shaking her head as Tsu also rose, freeing her hair. She touched his face gently, remembering the conversation they'd shared over dinner.
His tale of two young brothers, anxious to make their names in the Tong, worming their way into the Independents just to steal cargo the Browncoats themselves had stolen from the Alliance. It had all gone horribly wrong, with the money tainted beyond salvation, and they had turned to Grandfather, the one person with the resources and connections to have it hidden away. It was Grandfather who'd created the semblance of a tomb to the fallen, and had found a way to secure the treasure, leaving a means to check on it periodically. Tsu had taken on the responsibility of guarding the treasure, along with Grandfather, but Benny had cracked under the strain of such a terrible secret, descending into alcoholism and drugs. When he'd run away, taking the chesspiece with him, the theft hadn't been noticed at first. It had been a way of hiding the key in plain sight, so much a part of the temple that people had stopped actually seeing it. Knowing that the treasure was buried even deeper than ever meant that Tsu could go find Benny, if he chose.
Willow had shared her own story of the treasure, facing down Brigit after Sam had been knocked out. She'd never regretted her beliefs of non-violence and peaceful resistance before, but the knowledge that the entire planet may have become poisonous wasteland had she failed weighed on her.
"You are a willow, are you not?" Tsu had asked. " The strongest wind cannot break you should you learn to bend and flow with it. I have seen you move (one eyebrow wagging comically suggestive) and you are stronger than you seem. You could learn Aikido...it is purely defensive, and uses your opponent's own aggression to defeat him. I could show you the basics, until you have to leave Regina".
"I'd like that," Willow spoke now."Learning Aikido from you. A gift I take with me always."
And so the next two days passed quickly, with Willow taking lessons from Lao Tsu while doing what she could to ready the ship to fly (mostly shopping for supplies and making sure her crew got enough rest while healing). When at last she said farewell to Tsu, he walked her back to the ship, and gave her a datafile.
"This is a recording of our lessons, so you can study what you do well, and what needs to improve. It is also a series of lessons we have our children use...it will help if you cannot find a teacher. Perhaps you will return to me someday for more lessons, if for no other reason?" His tone was light, but his eyes were serious.
"I will call you sensei for the many things I've learned from you," Willow replied, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss him goodbye. The kiss deepened, and it was a few moments longer before Willow could tear herself away, knowing she'd not answered him. She walked out of the sunlight into the cool gloom of the cargo bay, where Trish waited in the shadows, watching as always.
At a look from the older woman, Willow shook her head, clutching the datafile and touching her still tingling lips. "No Auntie, you worry too much. His intentions were honourable...too honourable for a butterfly like myself. He...deserves better."
A few days later, Willow approached Asher, dressed in a white gi , "Asher? Would you do me a big favour? I need a training partner who will let me throw him around...and I think I can trust you to not get mad about it."
OOC: Will let Asher react.
It was three months later after landing on Beaumonde when it happened. Willow had already put away the few medical supplies she'd needed since leaving Regina and had settled down to practice her brush calligraphy in the infirmary. Soft music was playing as she carefully inked her brush, then made a series of strokes on paper, the ink flowing and spreading into the paper in a pleasing way.
"This is your captain,….. Sam Dash has tendered his resignation and will no longer be flying with us. It was a difficult decision for him, an' he wishes all of you his best. He had some fond nonsense t' pass on t' each of ya; which if yer so inclined t' hear I'll share it with you in a more confidential setting later. ….Meanwhile, this leaves us short a pilot and a job. So, git yer gear together an' git about yer day people. We got work t' do in order t' get back into the Black. I want to burn atmo as soon as possible."
Willow paused at the Captain's voice, then as she understood that Sam was well and truly gone, she lowered her head. She gathered up her calligraphy materials, no longer caring that the ink was still wet, and the paper marred with new wetness.
Oh Sam, my love...you didn't need to do this. You had a home that could run away anytime you needed to, with people who'd keep you safe and whole.
She couldn't spend too much time worrying about her own loss, however, as Wolf came stamping into the infirmary, cursing about Sam and engine parts that had no business getting in the way of his head.
"Come now, Mr. Wolf...don't you be hurting my fine ship with that hard head of yours. Sit down so I can reach the top of your thinking bits and we'll see what we have," Willow was all crisp business, snapping gloves into place and probing the bleeding gash with gentle fingers. "No need for stitches, you lucky thing, just a bit of dermal plast."
Later, when Wyatt have given all their instructions, Willow sat quietly while Wolf demanded that they go look for Sam. She knew better to counter the Captain in front of the entire crew, bad for morale, and not giving the Captain any room to save face. She held her breath, wondering if Wolf was the right fit for such a tiny ship in the Black.
As Wolf waited for an answer Ash walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm and quietly said,
“Come on... Wyatt’s given us our job. You know Sam and look’n for him would be harder than …. Uh.. well it would be hard. He don’t want found.“
Shrugging off the gunfighter's hand Wolf continued to look at Wyatt. "Doesn't matter how hard it is if we don't at least try what does that make us cowards? For him to leave like this means he is in deep kimche and needs our help. Just because he's too proud or afraid of us getting hurt to ask for our help does not mean we just give up trying to give it to him!"
When Wyatt replied, Willow shivered at the cold hardness of his tone. She knew why it was needed, and hoped it would be enough to quell the big man, but it hurt to hear it, nonetheless.
"Sam Dash don't exist, dòng bu dòng? (Do you understand?) He ain't never existed as far as you're concerned--any of you. Someone asks you if you know Sam Dash...well, the immediate answer that you better conjure up consists of askin' if that's some sort o' cookin' condiment. If'n I find out that you--any o' you--set on a path lookin' after that ta made niao (g**da**) fool, I'll ventilate your brainpan so that the goldpanners on Haven could use it as a sieve. Hell. I'd sell it to 'em for a bite of a protein bar at that point. Now, guan ni ziji de shi (mind your own business), and get t' work."
"I think we understand you," Willow rose smoothly from her seat, her voice calm and light as she joined the Captain, taking his arm and giving it a subtle squeeze. "We all have our orders, right? So let's find us some work and a flyboy to take us back into the Black, hmm?"
Posted on 2012-08-11 at 18:44:28.
Edited on 2012-08-11 at 18:47:06 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Behave!
Funny, funny people....it's about time Willow improved her self defence abilities without compromising her beliefs...she figures Asher won't mind being tossed by a girl
Posted on 2012-08-09 at 01:49:17.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: FWIW
Willow would be opening the airlock while the Captain was tossing - I spent good money on that medical bay and won't see the ship it's on impounded
Modifying a few skills and working it into the storyline...would Asher mind being a training partner?
Posted on 2012-08-08 at 03:44:46.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Using Found time wisely
Regina, Frisco, Day Nine, 2:00 am Planet Time
The cool night air was a benediction, a gift of sweetness after the coppery smell of blood and the glare of surgical lights. Willow and the doctor had worked together well, conferring on options and priorities, and soon enough each of the men had their injuries stitched, patched, straightened and otherwise put back as near perfect as medical skill could manage.
The task had absorbed Willow as it always would, the precision, dexterity and concentration of medicine thrilling her as she used her hands to help her friends. She was even able to pick up a few tips from Doc McGuire, his practiced hands efficient and steady.
But now she was weary, the endless day pulling at her. She stretched carefully and thoroughly, rubbing at her bruised forearm when a voice spoke from the shadows.
"Good Evening Miss Willow. Am I correct in assuming that all your companions made it out of the mine alive?" Lau Tsu stepped into the light, his face transforming from concern to relief as he saw for himself that she was unharmed.
“Lau Tsu. Good evening,” Willow bowed, graceful even in scrubs and weariness. “They are all up and out, and thanks to the Doc, they should be fine soon enough. “ She paused, and her own brief (yet surprisingly intense) pleasure at seeing him faded as she remembered Grandfather.
“Please allow me to express my sorrow at your loss. I am so very, very sorry…that we caused such horror here and to your family. How may I begin to atone?” Willow stated simply, face downcast and hands clasped before her.
Strong fingers touched her jaw gently, tracing from ear to chin, and raised her chin until jade eyes met black. “You were not the cause of this, merely the catalyst that finished something begun long ago. I will accept your condolences, not your apology.”
Willow simply nodded, unable to trust her voice. Emotions she’d been holding at bay welled up and threatened to spill beyond her control.
Lau Tsu let go of her chin to touch her cheek gently,” You are tired, and I am keeping you from rest. I wanted only to know you are safe. If you have an opportunity before you leave, I would like to have you over for dinner. I was protective of Grandfather, before, and not the host I would have liked to have been.”
Willow smiled, feeling a bit of a blush rising, “I would like that. I will send word when I can.”
Regina, Frisco, Day Ten, Planet Time
Once the men were released from the Doc’s care, Willow felt entitled to a little time for herself. She attended the celebration with the others, but as things began to break up for the regular folk and the serious drinking and gambling had begun for the rest, Willow advised the Captain that she’d be busy for the evening and headed back to the ship.
She changed into the cheongsam she’d worn the day she’d called upon Grandfather, and gathered up a few things into a bag. She made her way into town, nodding politely to the Tong that slipped out from among the houses to walk alongside. At a certain point, they changed from escort to guide, bringing her to a house that the Tong had secured for themselves while the Temple was being rebuilt.
Bidding her guides farewell, Willow entered the house and found herself in a large open concept room that was dark, but glowing with candlelight. Plates of food steamed on a table set off to the side, and a fireplace held a cheery flame surrounded by a plump couch and scattered pillows.
In the middle of the room, Lau Tsu stood, tall and strong and centered as a man who knew who he was and accepted it. The laughter in his eyes wasn’t as hidden as before, and watchfulness had melted into keen interest.
“Thank you for the invitation, Lau Tsu,” Willow said smoothly,” I understand we have unspoken promises between us. Besides, “ she smiled and pulled her favourite book from the bag she’d brought,” I do believe you just might be flexible enough to try page 76.”
Fade to black
OOC: will post reaction to Sam’s departure later...have an early wakeup call.
Posted on 2012-08-02 at 04:03:18.
Edited on 2012-08-02 at 04:06:02 by Vanadia
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: Shares
Willow indeed did not have to buy weapons and such, so she bought a share of the ship (time to stop running away from her troubles) AND she spent her remainder on the medical bay.
We can debate whether that's worth an extra share or not the next time you have holes that need patchin'
Posted on 2012-08-02 at 01:37:06.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: On the Razor's Edge
"Help me with Sam, please, Captain-san?" Willow asked.
“Wake her,” Wyatt responded simply before crouching beside Sam, leaving Brigit to Willow.
The doctor looked down at her patient, considering. The slumbering woman had caused the deaths of a number of people, and decimated a town for the sake of money. She lied, and cheated, and stole for the sake of her own base wants, and now she lay at Willow's feet. So much pain, so much suffering caused by the one woman, who, if left to her own devices, would cheerfully do so again.
Willow sank to her knees beside Brigit and watched her breathe, her chest rising and falling with each life sustaining action. The toxin Willow had used on the chess piece was harmless enough; a potent synthetic version of melatonin, it would drop a bull elephant in full charge into instant slumber. It was Willow's only protection, her only weapon, and she'd only ever needed it twice before now. It would wear off in time, the sleeper's body metabolizing it over time, and there would be no ill effects.
"That doesn't seem fair, does it Brigit?" Willow murmured softly, and she closed her eyes, thinking briefly of the elderly Tong who'd shown her only kindness. He was dead, and Brigit lived. WIllow opened her doctor's kit and considered her options. The vials blurred before her and she realized she was crying.
"This is silly, you have only one choice," she told herself firmly, and reached decisively for a particular vial. She checked the label carefully, though the black border and red lettering were clear enough, and slammed it home into the hypospray, breaking the seal on the vial. She took a deep breath and held the hypospray to Brigit's neck, pressing the injector firmly.
Brigit's eyes flew open immediately and her mouth opened in a soundless scream as her entire body went rigid, the powerful stimulant setting her heart to racing and every nerve screaming. Adrenaline coursed through the redhead's body, but her muscles were locked tight, so all she could do was quiver and shudder in her body's electrical and chemical storm. The effect was brief, however, so by the time Wyatt looked up from Sam, Brigit was painfully sitting up, wretching and holding her head.
"Oh good, you're awake," Willow purred. "Sometimes that dose kills the patient instead of waking them. You must have a strong heart. It's clearly not a good one. It was that or leave you here, and my vows wouldn't allow that. Just remember," Willow leaned in close, her jade eyes glowing with anger," I have another shot left, and if you so much as twitch the wrong way on the way out, we'll find out how the same dose affects a patient when awake. Always wanted to publish a medical paper."
Willow,” Wyatt said without removing his gaze from Brigit’s. “Go help Sam git topside as though yer skirts were on fire."
"Of course, Captain-san. Oh, Sam, my love, why must you stop moving objects with your body? We must teach you to dodge better. "
Willow and Sam made their way into the shaft, and it was hard to tell who was carrying who. Sam was woozy from the pain and possible concussion, but Willow's skirt hardly allowed for swift movement, so finally the pilot swooped the doctor into his arms and made a dash for it.
The ladder out of the dust and dark and noise seemed to rise into the heavens themselves, but at long last they were free of the shaft and into the cool night air. Willow tried to breathe in it's coolness, but the hard climb and the dust in her lungs were too much and she doubled over briefly in a fit of coughing. When she recovered, she was surrounded by townspeople and miners helping her friends out of the shaft, Bowman coordinating the efforts and Doc McGuire checking everyone over.
He took one look at Brigit's pale, sweaty face and her dilated pupils and turned to look up at Willow with a slow smile. "Pantelline? Remind me to never cross you, Miss Willow."
Willow shrugged. " It was that or suffocation in the dark. I'll live with my choice. I'll admit that I don't mind that she'll feel like she was kicked in the heart for a while," and her own glorious simile returned.
“Okay, I want these men,” he said pointing at Wolf, Sam and Asher, “Brought to my place now! Gently too so no rough riding.” The Doctor looked over to Willow, “You feel up to helping? I’m just an old country doctor.”
"I'd like nothing else, Doctor," Willow dimpled, grabbing her bag and hurrying to follow the men loading her boys into vehicles for the slow trip into town.
Posted on 2012-07-29 at 04:58:59.
Edited on 2012-07-29 at 13:47:44 by Alacrity
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Damsel in Distress
Brigit snatched the chess piece from Willow's hand and immediately looked at the bottom to check if it was the key. "She smiled a cold smile, "You know WIllow. I really never could get a bead on you. I thought you were smart. I thought you were the one to watch, but in the end you do something as dumb as this. You are weak and pathetic. A little pain and you cave in immediately. I really expect better from you." Brigit eyes shifted from Willow to the chess piece and back to Willow. Then she took a step back and looked at Willow's gloves.
"Son of a Bit...." She said as her eyes rolled into her head and she fell to the ground.
Willow stepped forward to stand over the fallen woman, a haughty and disdainful look in her eyes. She may have been dirty and dishevelled, wisps of raven hair falling loosely along her tear streaked face, but it was easy to believe, in that moment. her mother's claim that they were descended from the maharajahs of Earth That Was.
"I've been under-estimated by better!" she huffed, then spoiled the moment by sticking out her tongue. She crouched down to snatch the chess piece from Brigit's hand, just as the sound of gunfire came from above and the sound of falling rock nearly made her heart stop.
"Merciful Buddha!" she gasped, dashing over to Sam and dropping to her knees beside him, " I believe we've worn out our welcome." She examined him quickly, gentle hands probing at the angry flesh of his nose. It was likely broken, but the swelling would have to go down for her to be certain. A red knot between his eyebrows showed where the crowbar landed after smashing his nose, and that was probably what had knocked him out. She felt gingerly around his head to the back of his skull, but he seemed as hard headed as ever.
"Ok, my love, looks like this won't be pleasant, but I won't do any more harm waking you up. I certainly can't carry you both," Wilow muttered and reached into her doctor's kit. She recognized all the items by touch, and by passed them all in favour of a tiny vial. Holding her breath, she opened the vial and passed it under Sam's nose, hoping the nose wasn't swollen completely shut and he would still react to the smelling salts.
BAM! BAM! BAM! "it's me, Wyatt. I'd kinda like t' come on in if'n you don' mind." Willow was never so happy to hear her Captain's bellow. She set Sam's head down gingerly and scrambled to open the door, all but flinging herself into the Captain's arms.
"Thank the stars! I was so frightened! You left and then Brigit knocked Sam out and she hurt me, Captain! But then she tried to take the chess piece but I'd treated it so she's out and I'm trying to wake Sam...and, and, and I am so glad you are alright," she finished, pulling herself back and looking away, embarrassed by her outburst.
"Help me with Sam, please, Captain-san?"
Posted on 2012-07-22 at 04:22:43.
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Topic: Voyages of Rocinante - Serenity/Firefly RPG
Subject: Look what being home for a few days gets you
As Willow placed herself between Brigit and the casket, a small part of her wondered what was coming over her. She was a lover, not a fighter, and Tai Chi may have been based on martial arts, but that's all it was. Still, as Brigit insisted on endangering her beloved friends over something as base as money, Willow felt an emotion she scarcely knew: anger.
" Scabrous get of a mangy cur! " she hissed in Bengali, " Fleas are revolted by you! "
Brigit, however, was more swayed by Wyatt skinning his Colt than an angry Hindu woman, and so she turned yet another weapon on the Captain, a passably good ability to read someone and take a guess at their weaknesses.
"All this treasure and we are gonna do what? Walk away? You know Captain Wyatt Sung, I knew that you were gonna be the hard one in this job. let me guess, you lost someone in the war, I'd guess a loving wife and kids too? Most men could fill that void with this much cash but not you. And all the whispered promises I could give you wouldn't rile up your manhood either. Of course if you did strike it big then your people would get equal shares right? And then they would have no reason to stay with you would they? Willow could pursue all those things she would like to do as a wealthy woman, and Sam could get his own ship if he wanted. Then you'd be alone in an empty ship, just you and whatever bottle of whiskey you'd crawl into. Isn't that right Captain?"
Brigit looks over at Sam and then Willow, "Are you really gonna let him ruin your chance for a big score? Sam? This much cash and you'd be free -truly free. No more hiding? Aren't you tired of hiding?"
Willow took a sharp breath in at the words and her eyes darted between her friends; Brigit's shots in the dark were close to the mark for the men...but she'd dismissed Willow as a factor yet again. The Companion waited for her friends to react. She needn't have worried.
Neither man wavered, and Wyatt used a month's worth of words to put the fake school marm in her place, making Willow's eyes glow with approval.
“I’m gonna go check on that blast. You two stay an’ make sure this whore--” Wyatt spit at his feet. “Don’t go doin’ nothin’ t’ get us all dead.”
Willow winced at that; she knew he'd had little respect for her former profession, but the term still hurt, even when applied to another. That let him slip away before she could voice a protest.
That was what Brigit must have been waiting for. Barely had the Captain stepped out when she moved in a blur, Kicking the crowbar up into her hands and into Sam's face with a bone breaking clang. While Sam staggered back and Willow started to move toward him, Brigit moved again and Willow barely saw the crowbar spinning end over end towards her face. Only her original braced stance and the beginning of her movement saved her, as she was able to rotate slightly and bring her arms up in a swooping move, blocking the crowbar from her head.
There was a moment where she felt nothing, then everything as a searing pain bloomed in her forearm, then spread to shoulder and wrist, numbing her hand and drawing a cry from her lips. She bent over, cradling her arm instinctively, and when she raised her head, she found herself staring down the barrel of Sam's gun.
“Okay! This is how it goes. Either of you try something stupid and I kill you both. This is my score. No one robs me! Now give me that chess piece now Miss. Willow or I will take it from your dead cold hands.”
Willow let her face crumple and she didn't bother to hold back the tears of pain. She straightened up slowly, painfully, and held up her hands, whimpering slightly and wincing as she did so.
"No, no need for that, Brigit...I'm not willin' to die over money. Just wanted a big score before my looks fade, that's all, " she snivelled," Hang on, the piece is in my bag. You know I'm right handed, you watched me close enough...let me reach in with my left and get it."
Willow made sure to move slowly and awkwardly, squeezing out a few more tears as she reached across her body with her left arm to pull the white chess piece from the bag hanging on her right. She held the poisoned piece out in her gloved hand, hoping the toxin hadn't all been absorbed by the cloth of her bag.
"Hard to believe it's still white, " she said," it should be red with all the blood it's spilled."
Posted on 2012-07-15 at 03:45:52.
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Topic: Voyages of the Rocinante - Firefly RPG QnA
Subject: yeah, I know, my job sucks
Working stupid hours and away from home and barely able to sneak a peek at amazing posts...and insufficient time/creative juice to respond.
Posted on 2012-07-12 at 05:30:23.
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