[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CDoJiPF.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/d7JrcJs.png[/img]

[hr][h3]A Mechanical Opener[hr]THE FORNACIS | ENGINE ROOM[/h3][/center]


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[color=EEE8AA]"Alright."[/color] Kerry finally sat back, Pyxis disappearing as she seemingly satisfied herself that they'd fixed every last little issue with the cooling system - it had started playing up in the morning, and the woman was nothing if not diligent in her job. As good a ship as the Fornacis was, there were a lot of things needed to make her run right, and stay that way.

[color=EEE8AA]"You're done, Tally. Take five. We don't need to be working overtime anymore,"[/color] she shrugged, [color=EEE8AA]"most of this's just for efficiency's sake. The old girl's good to keep running, so no point working yourself to the bone."[/color]

Tally nodded and downed the rest of the water in her canteen. Working herself to the bone was more or less her normal, but she wasn't going to decline a good break.

[color=FF7777]"So that's the worst of it, then?"[/color] She asked. [color=FF7777]"How tough were they on her back in the day?"[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"Pretty damn tough,"[/color] there was some hint of pride in Kerry's voice, though as with everything else it seemed dulled, [color=EEE8AA]"I was on her from the start: if you liked getting yer hands dirty, it was paradise. But we've had a history of crazy bastards captaining us, so she's been through the wars. Most've the stories 'bout it are true, but she's a tough old airship. Much's anything else, it's just that all those years shut down took a toll."[/color]

[color=FF7777]"Sounds like a lot of fun, then."[/color] Tally was trying not to seem too interested, but she had that doe-eyed expression.

Kerry grinned, [color=EEE8AA]"no need to act aloof, kid. Hell, I was starry-eyed as anyone when I got my job, and it wasn't nothing famous then. Airship job, though, and for an Ortzi kid that was crazy enough. But don't worry too hard; 'f I know this crew, they'll be givin' us more than enough work in the next while. Enjoy it til the novelty wears off."[/color]

[color=FF7777]"S'pose I will, then."[/color] Tally said, not bothering to try to hide her smile anymore. [color=FF7777]"So you're from Ortzi? I'm mostly happy to be away from Mehrnez, myself."[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"Aye,"[/color] Kerry shrugged, [color=EEE8AA]"not that it matters. Ortzi's Ortzi. Here's here. Spendin' my time thinking 'bout where I'm from don't seem like a productive use of it. No-one makes sushi 'round here, but other'n that, isn't a thing worth discussing."[/color]

[color=FF7777]"Fair enough."[/color] Tally nodded. She could understand the sentiment.

[color=EEE8AA]"What made you wanna come here, anyhow? I know we were hirin' and all," Kerry shrugged, "but you could make a livin' on plenty ships without half the trouble the Fornacis gets into."[/color]

There was something wistful to her expression as she smirked, the good side of her face turned towards Tally.

[color=EEE8AA]"I know why the old folks're 'round. Newbies, I ain't so sure on."[/color]

[color=FF7777]"'Dunno."[/color] Tally shifted, a frown was forming. Of course she knew, it just felt tough to explain.

[color=FF7777]"Didn't exactly come from much. Ten years ago, felt like makin' a living was all I could hope for. Now that I'm there, it feels like an awful way to live, 'specially with no family to go back to anymore."[/color]

She paused for a moment.

[color=FF7777]"S'pose that's a little grim."[/color] Tally admitted. [color=FF7777]"Guess what I'm saying is that I could use a little trouble. Somethin' to look back on."[/color]

Kerry looked at her, gaze piercing. Didn't say what she wanted to say, go letting out the frustration that that sentiment brought up. But there was a noticeable downturn in her expression.

[color=EEE8AA]"Suppose that makes sense,"[/color] she shrugged, [color=EEE8AA]"but there's better things to do than chase a story."[/color]

And looking back was more destructive than it seemed.

[color=EEE8AA]"Ain't my place to go analysing your motives anyhow, I suppose. Long's you don't get your head stuck in stories and forget about doin' your job."[/color]

Tally nodded slowly, feeling the change in tone, trying to shove her more defensive feelings out of the way. She got the feeling that this was something backed up by experience, but she wasn't one to pry.

[color=FF7777]"Mmhm."[/color] Tally said finally. [color=FF7777]"Can see your point."[/color]

A good time to change the subject.

[color=FF7777]"So you said you know why all the old folks are here? Things didn't exactly end the greatest last time, least from what I heard."[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"Don't matter so much, really. At the end of the day, you'll find out if it's important; for now, that's just a question that'd get distracting. We're far from having the whole crew back,"[/color] Kerry absentmindedly picked up a screw, turning it between her fingers, [color=EEE8AA]"and those of us here got our own reasons. Let's say there was a shared feeling of sorts. Some listened, some didn't, and we gotta work with what we have."[/color]

[color=FF7777]"Fair enough."[/color] Tally nodded again. As long as it didn't become too much of an issue. But it hadn't, yet. She tilted her head to the side, stretching out the tension.

Kerry shrugged it off. Let the silence hang for a little while before standing back up as her Pyxis appeared over her bad eye and giving a slight nod to Tally. Figured she'd go and tinker with something, and didn't really say anything to acknowledge the conversation's end.

They'd be working together long enough - getting any deeper than that kind of talk... it could wait, in Kerry's opinion. She'd made the effort, but the break was done, and machines were easier to deal with anyway.
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