Open RP Post

[candor1]

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[candor1]

"Then I won't help you." He let his eyes drift away from her for a moment, surveying the rest of the populace and a glance at the sky. "Look, kid, the offer's running out. I've been on my own on the streets. I'm here right now with nothing to do. If you really don't want anybody, I'll go back to my ship and be outta here. But if you think somebody else could possibly be helpful, here's an opportunity."

[ro_laren]

She hesitated, then started naming off the parts she needed. They... were not run of the mill parts. Or ones that generally went together. But she had plans to make them work at least enough to get the shuttlecraft back to and hopefully through the anomaly. If it was even still there.

But she doubted he could or would help her.

[candor1]

At first he raised an eyebrow, then that gave way to his brow furrowing. He spent another minute in thought after she was done.

"I have a [insert part name (a)] I could give you," he said. "For [insert part name (b)], have you considered substituting [insert part name (c)] with [insert modifications]? 'Cause I've got one of those too. I'm afraid that's it."

[ro_laren]

"I'm not sure that modification would work. But if that is all the choice I have, I'll have to try and make due. At least I would be closer than I am now," she said thinking.

[candor1]

"You're fixing some kind of ship, I assume." He didn't wait for an answer, but tilted his head in the direction of the 'yards. "My ship's that way. You could come with me to get the parts, or I could meet you again somewhere." He didn't want to make her worry that he was trying to get her on his ship.

[ro_laren]

She considered. "Does your ship have any other spare parts I might be able to look through?"

[candor1]

"Not all are up for grabs. But sure."

[ro_laren]

"Very well. Then I will come with you and we can work out what it is that I will owe you for these parts."

[candor1]

There wasn't a good way to respond to that without seeming to presume or imply… anything, really; so Cassian just nodded and turned to lead the way.

The U-wing was parked in a rented space in the shipyards. Cassian lowered the ramp, glanced back to make sure she was still there, and went on first. Again: leaving her the exit if she changed her mind. She seemed capable and unconcerned enough but he'd seen too many kids (and been one) used and violated to not be hypersensitive to the possibilities.

[ro_laren]

She didn't enter the ship, but she did circle it slowly, studying it from the outside. Sh resisted the urge to whistle, but it was a near thing. Clearly she had been spending too much time with Geordi.

[candor1]

Cassian reappeared atop the ramp, one hand braced in the archway. "You coming, or am I bringing things out to you?"

[ro_laren]

She considered, then fixed her jacket, not quite realizing she was mimicking Picard as she headed or the ramp. Mostly she had been making sure that the phaser was where she could reach it. "Very well."

[candor1]

Cassian nodded and ducked back inside.

The whole time aboard the U-wing, Cassian did two things: (1) kept a reasonable, consistent distance between himself and her, and (2) kept a constant eye on her. Unlikely as it was that she was an Imperial agent here to plant something on his ship (considering he'd approached her and had to be insistent about it), he still had protocols.

He popped a panel and pulled out the carton of spare parts, and stepped back to let her search it.

[ro_laren]

She would have considered being almost amused by his seemingly nervous distance if the situation hadn't been so grim. She had a feeling Guinen would have been amused anyway. She took a deep breath as she went through the parts, and found herself frowning a bit. "Which things are not available for trade?"

[candor1]

"Well…" he knelt on the other side of the carton and rummaged, taking things out and sorting them to either side, between them. Finally, he picked up four parts (rare, tailor made, or particularly volatile) and shoved them back behind the panel. "Any of the rest are fine."

[ro_laren]

She nodded, taking the parts they had discussed, and going through for a few others she might be able to work with if she was careful. She set the pile of parts she chose on the floor between them. "And the price?"

[candor1]

He shook his head slightly. "I said I'd give them to you. If you want to pay me back somehow, that's fine, but it's up to you." He wasn't going to ask what have you got?, see above. The Alliance wasn't so wealthy it could afford to give away too much, but some unlikely-to-be-used-again or easily replaceable parts to help someone out—that was their calling.

[ro_laren]

She nodded and started loading the smaller parts into her pockets. "Thank you then." Well even without the Federation having a foothold here, there was someone who acted like he was part of it. She would have to find some way to notate in her log for this incident who he is so that if others came back, he could be paid properly. Guinen would know how to word it, she was sure. She stood, collecting up the larger parts.

"I will get out of your way, then."

[candor1]

He eyed her laden arms critically. "How far away is your ship? I don't think you'll get very far before someone's trying to take those off you." He'd foiled three pickpockets in only an hour of being on the streets.

[ro_laren]

He was right, though she hated to admit it. "If you have the time, I could make trips," she said. She was hesitant to take a native to a hidden Federation shuttlecraft. She was reasonably sure they had faster than light from the tech she had seen, but not Warp. Given her track record she couldn't get away with what other officers could. Not if she wanted to ever sit on the bridge again.

She hated this. This having to prove herself *****. She had proven herself plenty of times already. It was only because of Q that no one remembered it.

[candor1]

A native. A nice compliment to his local clothing and inconspicuousness of the tech level of the U-wing. Still…

"Or I could just come with you," he said, pulling a knapsack off a hook and looking at her with raised eyebrow. He understood not wanting to show one's ship, but it would be better than losing the pieces as soon as she'd found them. "That can be my payment. Making sure everything gets where it's supposed to."

[ro_laren]

"I am fine on my own," she said. Was that his angle then? Offer the parts so he could claim her ship? Or were her issues with the Ferengi overshadowing things? Had she been right to see him as Federation material or blinded by some stupid childish desire to not be alone.

She knew better.

But better than what was the question. She knew she was far from the only one of the displaced lined up to take down Q if the chance ever presented itself, but she was going to do whatever it took to be in the front of that line for this.Except it was as much of a daydream as somehow forcing him to send them all home. And she didn't indulge in daydreams. She refused to be that weak.

[candor1]

"I know," he said. "I know what it seems like. I just want these parts to go to you, not some local thief. Is there anything I can say to you that would help convince you it's okay?"

[ro_laren]

"Oh I'm pretty sure you don't know how this seems to me," she said dryly. Because if he actually did understand? That would mean he was Federation. She set down the parts that were in her arms while they spoke, because she realized that she could chec that easily enough. She crossed her arms, making sure her jacket opened just enough to show the comn badge as she gave him a look. Mostly to see if he recognized the insignia as anything other than just a pin. If he was undercover studying native culture then she could accept the help and he might have something that could actually help. If he didn't recognize the insignia, she was no worse off than she had been before.

[candor1]

He didn't recognize the insignia—but he recognized that it was an insignia. Another slight eyebrow arch, and, mirroring her, he opened his jacket to show her his ID transponder with its notation of his rank. Different than hers but perhaps along similar enough lines.

"How young did they get you?" he asked quietly.