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[hr][h3]Let's Get Down to Business[hr]THE DREADED OUTDOORS[/h3][/center]

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[color=EEE8AA]"Leave the engine room, Kerry. It'll be [i]fine[/i]. You should get out more."[/color]

This was not a good day. In fact, it was a bad one. And Kerry had very little intention of sticking with most of their crew, given the circumstances. 

See, though she was used to more traditional mechanics at the moment, she wasn't short on less, well, strictly safe creations. Normally, she wouldn't use that expertise, because they were [b]supposed[/b] to have people to handle all that so she didn't have to. It didn't look much like they were keeping teamwork in mind, and without depth perception she doubted she could keep up with the brute-force segments of the crew. 

For now, preparation was the word of the day. So she sat there, working on a small device; a few, already completed, sat on the table in front of her. Improvised explosives. A little basic, certainly, but enough to give a monster a bad time or effectively clear a path. Mountains weren't the safest place to set off explosives, but her Pyxis meant she could identify weaknesses well enough not to set off a landslide. Or set one off on purpose.

If Ilaria didn't want her destroying the scenery, she shouldn't have made it necessary. [color=EEE8AA]"And... done."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"Blockheads, the lot of them!"[/color]

Merry overheard them earlier, the ice mage and the Phuvatan mechanic. 'No member unaccounted for', wasn't it? Look at them, going off on their own daring adventures with nary a thought for people like [i]her[/i] who had the real jobs, the biggest of which was figuring out how to transport a ship's worth of rations to the top of a mountain. So what if she'd already talked the cargo crew into hauling it up for her? Leadership was a tough burden to bear! Hardly fitting for a delicate maiden such as herself. Did any of them stop to think that maybe she wanted to beat up some monsters and have fun too>

Scoffing under her breath, Merry hefted a full sack of rice onto her shoulder.

Alas, her duty was to the stomachs of the crew. She doubted she'd receive the full sum of her paycheck if she went off frolicking on her own, even if she was confident she could beat Frosty up the mountain. Which she was. But confidence had a habit of bringing attention. And attention brought responsibilities. Which would mean a kiss farewell to her carefree skyship life.

[color=f6989d]"Still, I bet the view alone would have been worth it,"[/color] she sighed. Perhaps the imaginary view was a little too enticing. As she daydreamed, her hip caught the corner of a table, sending something rolling off the edge.

[color=f6989d]"Oop."[/color]

With a flash of her Pyxis, Merry's hand snapped to position directly below the plummeting device, catching it neatly.

[color=f6989d]"Heh, close one."[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"You're damned lucky I took safety measures."[/color] Kerry snapped. [color=EEE8AA] "And careful while you put it down."[/color]

She'd taken the time to tie her hair back, keep it out of the way, blind eye now clear to see as she looked up with clear irritation. The cook. Wonderful.

[color=EEE8AA]"I'd prefer it if no-one gets blown up."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"Blown up? This little guy?"[/color]

She brought the capsule closer for examination, though something on the mechanic's face seemed to catch her attention the moment after.

[color=EEE8AA]"It's a bomb. So yes."[/color]

Ah. Merry returned it to its siblings, carefully like the lady asked. 

[color=f6989d]"Will you be leading the march with these, Miss..."[/color] Eh, what was it again. [color=f6989d]"M'Dougie?"[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"McDougall, and yes, if needs be. It'd be better to know where the bulk of the crew is if anything destructive's necessary."[/color]

She looked at Merry with a sigh. [color=EEE8AA]"I'd prefer to reserve 'em for terrain clearance or the worst of the creatures. You lot can handle the smaller ones, and I'd recommend someone lead with me. Depth perception'll be important, 'n all that."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"Oh, what fortune!"[/color] Someone to foist the micro-management onto. [color=f6989d]"You see, I was in the midst of gathering the crew myself. Needed quite a number of hands to get all the newly purchased rations to the ship so I've enlisted a sizable portion of the crew to assist me with the cargo. Very sizable, honestly. Ah, but I'm afraid that's where my co-ordination efforts will have to end. It would be much better for a seasoned empyrean like you to take the reins, perhaps seek out a co-leader amongst the more legendary crew, don't you think?"[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"You ever do anythin' for yourself?"[/color] Kerry spoke wryly, but stood up. [color=EEE8AA]"I can handle some of it, but unless I'm mistaken - which I'm not - you're also meant to be keeping charge of some of the ship's operations. Kitchen or engineering: heading a section means you take responsibility in times like this."[/color]

There was a slightly sadistic note to the crooked smile she shot Merry. One that indicated she knew exactly what she was doing here.

[color=EEE8AA]"So I'll decide the route, and keep us on track. You can babysit the group you so smartly brought together, and make sure none of our cargo gets wrecked on the way."[/color]

Eh?

[color=f6989d]"Eh?"[/color] Merry blinked. W-Wait, what just happened here? [color=f6989d]"Oh. Oh no no, Miss McDougall, that is so... uh, [i]flattering[/i] but I must tell you, you are placing far too much faith in me. An overestimation, truly!"[/color]

Kerry began to gather up the explosives, before standing and shouldering her pack. She could make more later if they were truly needed. Grin only widening, she clapped a hand on Merry's shoulder.

[color=EEE8AA]"No time like the present. I'm sure the crew'll appreciate your efforts once I tell 'em."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"There's nothing to tell!"[/color] Her tone became pleading. [color=f6989d]"Come on, Miss. A first-timer like me? I mean, an operation of that scope would be such a..."[/color]

Ah, her excuses weren't scoring this time. Merry's face began to turn red.

[color=f6989d]"...a chore!"[/color]

[color=EEE8AA]"Sometimes we've all gotta get our hands dirty. Think of it like a... learning experience. Character-building."[/color]

With that, and a slightly pointed look, Kerry released her shoulder and began to walk away.

[color=EEE8AA]"Make sure your prep's all done. We've got a whole lotta work ahead."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"This is a big mistake, you know! Gargantuan!"[/color]

Merry attempted to jog after the senior but the rice sack on her shoulder had other plans, practically halving her pace.

[color=f6989d]"Character-building,"[/color] she muttered, and yelled after Kerry, [color=f6989d]"You sound like my mother!"[/color]

And her sister. And her father. And the vast majority of her academy instructors, for that matter.

Kerry paused, looking back at her struggle to catch up, and chuckled, mostly ignoring the comment. After a moment, she turned to walk away, calling back over her shoulder.

[color=EEE8AA]"Glad to have you on board, kid!"[/color]
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