Capitulus Secundus: Illumination

[Trogdor]

"My name's Jericus," the adept replies with a smile. "And I'm happy to see that we'll have company for the trip. Not that my friends are dumb, or anything. But they'll probably want to do something dull like play cards or sleep. You, I can see are a different sort. You've got a brain in your head. And I'm sure you're the sort who likes to give it some exercise."

He sits down on the bunk across from Sebek. "You see, I'm a newly-promoted junior assistant quality control specialist, second class, and this is my first trip off planet - looking at reports on some fungus or flower, or whatever it is they have in the crates they're tithing. I'm just there to make sure that they're following procedure. We can't have them mixing up their form 32548-25B's with their 32584-27Q's can we?" He gives Sebek a playful punch in the arm. "Where would the monthly assessment spreadsheets be then? I mean we've had reports that they may be trying to margin their outflow without properly docking their tithe blocks on the intermediate reporting forms. So naturally they sent QC to to give their records the up and down before cracking them with a full audit. So here I am." He smiles warmly.

"But I'm really happy that you're here," he continues without more than a pause for breath. "Because, new as I am, I'm not as familiar with Imperial Tithing Code Blocks VII through XXII, or the Coracular adminimarks they use on their datadumps - I was brought up using the New Denith method myself, so those Coracular squiggles leave me wondering whether the forms should be blue or red, or whether to go RTL at the get go. I'm so happy to have someone who understands what I'm talking about." He smiles at Sebek again.

"I mean you did say you were a merchant right? Like I said, I have nothing against the people I'm traveling with, but what they know about Administratum rules could fit in an autoquill with room left over for the ink. But you," he taps Sebek in the chest, "you have to deal with the Administratum all the time. You understand the need to keep your markers tight and your lines up and up. I'm sure you won't mind helping me bone up on my regs while we travel, will you? I mean, an old hand in traveling these space lanes, I'm sure you have to deal the same regulations and forms every month. Why I'm sure you know the regs by heart and could do your three-three-sixes in your sleep."

"Yes, indeed," he says, "this is my lucky day. And here I thought the whole trip would be a waste."

OOC

Mention some of the more onerous areas of the Administratum for merchants (Common Lore: Adminstratum) and slip in and out of the Administratum secret tongue.

I'll give as good as I get!

Heck, I figure that since he just learned Common Lore: Adminstratum, Jericus has to read up and study some of it anyway.

[jigglypuff69]

Solaria finishes witht the ensign, smiles at the mess that Jericus is causing with the "merchant" and decides to play along. She winks to Xandria and then sauters past the mechant and Jericus, letting the man see her athletic curves. When she gets to a empty bunk, Solaria starts to dump her pack and drop her auto-carbine. Looking over her shoulder at Jericus and still giving Sebek an eyeful, she asks "Sorry to interupt, Boss, but where would you like me to set up the armory and our supplies?" She hopes that solidifying Jericus's role as leader in this man's eyes might help whatever he's at.

[Trogdor]

"Oh, anywhere you think is best," Jericus replies. "You're the experts on that sort of thing." Then he turns back to Sebek and adds, "bodyguards. Seems this place we're going is dangerous. Wouldn't send us without guards."

OOC

I won't speak for everyone. But we could easily be a multi-purpose force going to look for corruption and waste. A representative from the Arbites, the Church, and the Administratum would seem appropriate, with a couple of guards and a tech priest and psyker for support.

[ManWithDoor]

Damien stops and blinks for a moment as he passes through the door, staring for a moment at Jericus. An odd fellow, to be sure, but evidently quite resourceful. A small smile graces his face as he continues walking to claim a spot to sleep. He would bet 5 Thrones that the resident merchant was in over his head. On the other hand, perhaps the merchant's social discomfort was not going to be enjoyable enough to merit being oblivious of the conditions in the hold. While the life of a psyker on a hive world was not glamorous, to say the least, his pay grade merited better conditions than this. He has to stop himself from telekinetically moving aside the sheets, mentally chastising himself for even thinking of using his powers for such a mundane thing. In the end, he is silent as he lays claim to a spot and lays down his few possessions for the journey.

[jigglypuff69]

"10-4, Boss." Solaria goes about setting up gear in the lockers against the wall and claiming her rack. As she sets aside her belongings a small smile comes to her full lips, but is quickly lost as she looks at the psyker. She's never worked with one and the stories that she's heard of Commisars putting rounds into Guard psykers that go bad makes her shudder. Hopefully it won't come to that and she still needs to work with the man. For now Solaria will give him the benefit of the doubt and look to speak when they are alone at some point.

Another point of interest is what this Sebek has for sale. After their re-fit her Thrones are few, but if she could get something useful...

"Sister, I saved the top bunk for you..." solaria calls over to the violet eyed woman.

Display

Bren, is Xanthia Cadian? It's a trait and point of pride that Cadian born have violet eyes...

[Vardaen]

Sebek smiles wide at Jericus and then that smile turns to a scowl after the Adminstratum redtape-babble falls from the Adept's mouth. Sebek nods and shakes his head, and attempts to interupt a few times, but each time he's about to Jericus poke or touches him and his concentration is broken. The man's face says it all, and it doesn't take a Psyker to read his mind, 'Oh no! This guy is soooo boring!'

Then Solaria intervenes, and Sebek's eyes go to the woman's curves and her weapons and armor. He swallows, tring to extricate himself from Jereicus and his Administratum blackhole. "I...I...I, let me get back to you on that. Yeah! Let me...uh." He swallows hard and stands up, "Excuse me, I should probably, oh, well....I don't think I can be much use to you, you see I don't, well. So bodyguards huh? She's a looker, mind if I say hi?" He doesn't wait for a reply and stands up and walks over to talk to Solaria or anyone other than Jericus!!!

OOC

I think that succesfully removes Jericus as Sebek's focus for the trip.

Collecting himself Sebek smiles at Solaria, his back to Jericus and the others, "Well hello there, names Sebek, a pleasure to be traveling with someone so pleasing on the eye. You need anything, you let me know, I know this ship, and I carry some hard to find items too. Been a while since anyone as nice looking at you has come onboard, what did you say your name was again? I"m Sebek, been on this run for a few years, you need anything, you let me know. It can get cold when they shut the throvents off in the night hours, you can share a bunk with me if you need to. Names Sebek if you didn't catch that, anyhow, nice looking weaponry there, perhaps you might care to take at look at my things too. Wow, you aren't bad on teh eyes are you? No you aren't." Please please please don't let that Jericus bother me again.

[jigglypuff69]

Solaria turns from where she's standing and smiles to Sebek. A smile dripping with honey. "Thanks for the compliments. A lady likes to hear that kind of thing once in a while. Wait til you see my sister...", Solaria raises an eyebrow for affect. "You can call me something special. My boring old name won't do for a man like yourself... Silk! That would do just fine. I was once told that's what my lips feel like. And as for sharing bunks, my work comes before that kind of thing. Usually." Solaria leans back against the bunks, her back arching ever so lightly for affect, "So, Mr. Sebek, you say you have some interesting items, do you? How about a looksie when we get settled in?"

He's mine...

[Vardaen]

Sebek nods, now having forgotten Jericus all together. "Of course Lady Silk, of course.... I have some thing, perhaps you'll find interesting, I sure hope so. Well, let me get them ready." His eyes are leacherous as he watches Solaria posturing on her bunk. He backs up to his own and reaches down and puts a hand on his trunk.

A terribly loud screeching noise is heard behind one of the bulkheads as some ancient machiniery goes to work. The whole ship lurches forward, and there is a shimmer and a shifting of the light. Damien reacehs up and grabs his head without realizing it as The Brazen Sky opens a portal into Warp Space, and the whole ship slips into the Warp -- the trip has begun.

[Grimbold]

Haxtes touches the wall and focuses on the buzzing and humming of the machinery, trying to make out anything not normal. Still, he has not said a word to Damien or Sedek but he observes them quietly.

[jigglypuff69]

Solaria looks over her shoulder at the sanctioned psyker. The touch of the warp, if the void shields were to fail, could mean a resting place for some foul creature in side Damien's body. Care must be taken...

She immediately turns her atention back to what Sebek is pulling out for inspection, "Sister, you must see what this man has to offer...", Solaria calls over to Xanthia.