[color=00746b]"C'est magnifique,"[/color] Gerard said to Ariana with a bright smile, placing a hand on his hip before looking around to Maki. [color=00746b]"Come madamoiselle, you make me sound like a common drunkard,"[/color] he said with a good-natured sigh, [color=00746b]"I am a connoisseur of the finer wines...but you are correct about me knowing about almost every brewery where we are stationed."[/color] Turning around to Ariana, he gave a small conspiratorial wink and whispered [color=00746b]"and a hidden panel in the Marauder has their best vintages too. Come see me if you require a toast, oui?"[/color] Clearing his throat, he took a step back. [color=00746b]"And like madamoiselle Nishizumi, and like I have said many times before, I will extend my hand in any way shape or form that you require. If you need to acquaint yourself with a melee fighter, feel free to ask me."[/color] No sooner had the words left his mouth that Trapp called them into a parade line. With a relaxed saunter, Delacroix trundled into line besides Nishizumi and McKnight. As Yuuyami look around in confusion, like an adorable little child, behind them, Gerard took a half step back, lightly pressing his palm into her back and driving her forwards ever so gently. Slotting her into place between Wes and Nishizumi, he lightly patted her on the back before petting her on the head once and returning to a impeccable parade salute, a smile still on his face. He didn't really mind the various oddities within their unit, and in fact revelled in them, although some he could possible have turned down. His mind wandered to Wes for a second before it snapped back as Captain Alexis walked down the line. One by one they dismissed themselves back to their units, doing final fine tunes before she arrived. Delacroix was no exception. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [color=00746b]"Bonjour, Capitaine Marquis,"[/color] Gerard said as he snapped a crisp salute, his polished boot heels clicking together into an impeccable stance, [color=00746b]"or is it bonsoir now?"[/color]. Waving him to ease and finally relax, Alexis smiled at him. [b]"I trust all is going well, Lieutenant Delacroix?"[/b] she said as she approached, her hands clasped behind her back. [color=00746b]"Better than I could hope,"[/color] he replied as he fell in alongside her, approaching the front of the Marauder, [color=00746b]"I mean I have comrades, my Marauder and my honour. What more could a man want?"[/color]. [b]"Thats good,"[/b] Alexis said with a mischevious smile, [b]"then I trust you'll pay for the damage you did to my dropship then?"[/b] Delacroix laughed softly. [color=00746b]"Though I may not have the credits, I can think of another way,"[/color] he said as he split off, clambering up the scaffold into the cockpit. Disappearing inside for a few seconds, there was a soft clanking sound followed by clinking glass. Reappearing with a dark bottle in his hand, he descended once more. [color=00746b]"A 2890 Charon Cabernet Sauvignon,"[/color] he explained as he brushed dust off of its label, [color=00746b]"a beautiful smooth, ripe wine with plum and vanilla undertones."[/color] Holding the bottle by the neck, he presented it to Alexis.[color=00746b] "Made of good old terran style fruits and perfect for those beef and lamb dishes I imagine you take with the top brass, non?"[/color] Whenever Alexis needed to curry the favour of a particular general or higher ranking officer, she could usually count on Gerard's help selecting a vintage of wine from his own collection. In return, the other authorities did not know about the hidden panel behind the hatchet equipped with wooden panelling and more than a few wine racks of fine wine. In response, Alexis lightly flicked his forehead, taking the bottle with the other hand. [b]"While it may be cooked better than what you eat, its still the same low grade beevaile meat that we partake of."[/b] [color=00746b]"I refuse to believe that,'[/color] Gerard said jokingly as he folded his hands behind his back once more, watching Alexis and her tantalising rear retreat from his view. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [color=00746b]"You reap what you sow,"[/color] Gerard said sadly as he flipped the page of his book. Sitting on a crate near Williams' machine, he leaned back against the wall as he reached for the tin mug of coffee he had managed to pry out of his engineer's thermos. The steaming hot, bitter liquid slid awkwardly down his throat as he eyes continued to flick across the page, [color=00746b]"and if you sow the wrong thing, the lord grows angry."[/color] Pouring himself another cup, he looked up and lifted it only to have it snatched out of his hands by Sokolov. [color=ed1c24]"Thank you tovarishch,"[/color] he said before slamming it down, leaving a slightly bemused Gerard. [color=00746b]"You could have just asked,"[/color] he said as he took the tin cup back, pouring another cup of hot joe from the thermos. [color=00746b]"Haha! But if I asked you would have said yes anyway!"[/color] the Russian replied as he bounced down onto the crate beside him. Chuckling as he lifted the cup once more, he looked around. [color=00746b]"Last cup of coffee in the hangar, who needs it?"[/color]