[@iTem]

Benny wasn't too pleased about being sent out on errand boy duty, when he and Grayson finished with their preparations for the firing range. He grumbled about it, but since there didn't seem to be anyone else to do it for them he didn't have much choice.  He went inside his cabin to get a change of clothes into something more comfortable for walking around, and got ready to head out. On the way from his quarters to the ship's exit as it was docked, he passed by Matija, who  would quickly notice their agitation, being able to read their body language when they're upset during the time they had spent recovering together.

[color=burlywood]"Benjamin!"[/color] she yelled out to him to get his attention. The Mecorian walked over to him, wondering where he was planning on going since he wasn't one to change unless he has to go do something somewhere. [color=burlywood]"What's up with you? Ya look more sour than a lemon on vinegar,"[/color] she added as she prodded Skelly. Boomer looked at her in surprise as she approached him, and sighed in response. [color=darkgoldenrod]"It's nuthin' much, really. I'm jus' bein' asked ta' go run some errands an' deal with tha' locals,"[/color] he replied, in a somewhat self-deprecatory tone. His words amused Matija, making her caress his face while she held a shit-eating grin that shifted into a mock pout. [color=burlywood]"Aww... Wee babe don't wanna deal with them locals. Prefer yer tools an toys, baby boy?"[/color] She asked in a mocking tone. 

He blushed in embarassment at the way she chided him and he turned away from her. [color=darkgoldenrod]"A-aye! So wot if I do? Tryin' ta' deal with people feels like chemistry withou' tha' consistency,"[/color] He responded somewhat defensively as he continued moving along the ship. Matija chuckled at his defensiveness and watched him walk away from her. [color=burlywood]"Hey,Ben! Wait up! I'mma come with ya!"[/color] she said as she jogged to walk next to him. [color=burlywood]"What's this whole thang about anyway? I thought you were doin' stuff in the gym with Grayson?"[/color] She asked. [color=darkgoldenrod]"We were, though we were missin' a few things needed ta' keep the firin' range from bein' as deadly as actual fire,"[/color] he replied without turning to look towards her as he continued onwards to the exits. [color=darkgoldenrod]"I'm supposed ta' pick up wot we need so we can finish the bloody thing,"[/color] he finished.

A moment passed before she spoke.[color=burlywood]"I'll come with ya. Ya need someone to haggle, right? Where are we buyin'?"[/color] She asked. He considered her offer for a moment before shrugging. [color=darkgoldenrod]"I s'pose some company wouldinnae be amiss. We're headin' ta' the town right next to some military outpost Stryker's pickin' up some more scoundrels from,"[/color] he replied. [color=burlywood]"Hmm... Near military compounds ain't easy to haggle in. I'll see what I cain do."[/color] She said in response.

After a while the duo had reached the nearby town, all filled with law-abiding Alliance citizens [i][color=darkgoldenrod]"As expected from people living next to a bunch of boy scouts[/color][/i] Benny thought. The furst thing on their list was some kilograms worth of insu-gel for the firing range. They headed to a hardware and supply store for that. The place seemed well-stocked, probably because this town would be expected to supply the military base in the event they get cut off from Alliance Command. They wanted this town to be self-sufficient for a while. [color=burlywood]"Hey, ain't that the insu-gel that you boys wanted?"[/color] The Spider walked over the eager merchant and smiled at them. She checked the brand and found it fitting for the one that they needed and the merchant handled the rest.

[i]"This thing right here is one of the best brands of insu-gel that you can ask for. Reasonable insulation, and you can keep slamming your head on it no problem and you won't feel a thing."[/i]

[color=burlywood]"Ahuh. What's yer price?"[/color]

[i]"Just 30 credits a pound."[/i]

Matija squinted at that, not wanting to go for that. [color=burlywood]"Uh. Yeah. Let's keep lookin', Ben. Might be better prices around,”[/color] she concluded. Benny shrugged in response [color=darkgoldenrod]“Yer tha’ boss”[/color] He said as they left the store.

For a while, they wandered about the general area, looking at various hardware, general supplies, and construction stores for the insu-gel. The crowds were not very large, but the streets were still fairly tight as the town was well industrialized, again likely due to the need for self-sufficiency in times of emergencies. People gave the two of them odd looks for how different they looked from the average citizen, between Matija’s white hair and his own bionic arm. Benny was distracted from it for the most part though because of how Matija seemed to insist on remaining in close proximity, latching onto his arm at times the way most couples do and it made him Benny fairly flustered as he wasn’t used to this kind of contact. His only reprieve was when they entered shops and Matija went off to speak with the salesmen to inquire about their prices.

[color=burlywood]"Heyy, hon. Guess you're the one after all,"[/color] the mecorian joked, making the shopkeep perk up and smile. [color=burlywood]"So how may do you need again, Ben? This lil pumpkin here's gonna make it worth your while, aint'cha, sweetie?"[/color] The shopkeep smiled and nodded eagerly, wanting to impress. [b]"Like I told you earlier,"[/b] the merchant said with a slight lisp, [b]"These are the newer insu-gel mixes from Frox Corp. Best in the line-up because its mixes are less likely to separate from each other and it keeps bullets from ricocheting if you use it like you said you would. It's only 28 credits a pound for you if you really want that much of it."[/b]

Matija seemed to have furrowed her brows to the price, wanting it as low as possible. [color=burlywood]"What about halfing that?"[/color]

[b]"Um... No I can't do that..."[/b]

[color=burlywood]"No deal then. We saw someone selling it at 25 creds and i'd prefer baggin' that."[/color]

The Spider turned around and was about to walk away when the flustered merchant piped back up. [b]"O-okay! I'll give it at 25!"[/b] Matija grins, but her face reverted to neutral as she turned to look at the merchant. [color=burlywood]"Give in an extra pound and you got yourself a deal."[/color]

The transaction was wired to the shop's account from their Alliance conenction, and they picked up the containers with the exact measurements for the insu-gel they needed. Fortunately, he was also able to add a little extra insu-gel for his personal use thanks to the discount that Matija had gotten them, making it so that it did not exceed the cost of the amount requisitioned by Grayson. He was impressed by how Matija operated, and how she managed to accomplish what she did with only a bit of bluffing.

[color=darkgoldenrod]"Stealin' from 'em in broad daylight right in front o' their faces. Yer a proper thief, ya are,"[/color] Benny complimented as they arranged for the containers to be shipped to the docks where they would pick it up after presenting the receipt they were given. Matia seemed quite pleased with the compliment but felt flustered by it.  She jokingly took a soft jab at his arm and smiled shyly. [color=burlywood]"Yeah, well I didn't grow with much money so I had ta get the most with what I had,”[/color] She said. He nodded in response to her statement. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Aye, I can believe that. Only people who get desperate enough, do tha' kind o' shite we got real good at doin'... Not that I'm complainin' abou' gettin' to blast apart space stations,"[/color] He finished with a smile as they started heading back out onto the streets.

[color=burlywood]"Even if I had a choice,I'd stil choose this,"[/color] she would say with a glance towards him. Benny thought over that response for a moment. He thought back to his experiences back on his home world, and the turns that his life took that led him into the job that he did today. To his surprise, he found that looking back, he could not picture himself doing anything other than what he had been blackmailed into doing by the alliance. Once he concluded that, he turned to look back at her again. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Y'know what? I think I woulda' done the same,”[/color] He finished. She chuckled at the though, stopping just by the entrance of the cargo door when they approached it. [color=burlywood]"Heh. Us fuckers ain't gonna trade this shit for anything in the world,"[/color] she would say with a grin.