[center][h1][color=00a651][b][u]NERO KAYAKOS[/u][/b][/color][/h1][/center]

Was there even a Rau've term for cocaine?  Remember, they were the ones that had to teach [i]them[/i] about human concepts, including alot of the vices.  Just think: Out there, somewhere, is a plant-boy ready to call one of his peers a [i]motherfucking triffid[/i] if he got mad enough.  That's kind of the effect Nero had in particular, because...in a way, the Rau've were a bit like kids, themselves.  At least, they were if you taught 'em something they didn't know, and they didn't know what to do with it.  What's a [i]normal[/i] kid do when they see the adults do something?  Try to mimic it and fit it in with their life.  What's an alien plant running pretty much on logic all the time gonna do?  See where it fits, which amounts to pretty much the same thing.

Anyway, that wasn't what was important.  There was as much laying off of what Iris was doing as keeping on.  Nero's view on the matter was that they probably weren't gonna [i]have[/i] much of a chance to goof off and have a sweet treat, later on.  They were going off with some frigging mercenaries to do some serious business, which means that ya may as well get it out of your system while you've got ths chance, right?  Well, [i]half-right[/i], in Ashton's eyes.  He wanted to be responsible.  Nero figured 'responsible' was gonna be forced on them, like during the war, where what they had to eat and sleep and work with was just limited.  However, on thi point, he was also kinda' wrong, as the brown-haired boy was showing him...gambling?  Kind of a high-stakes business gambling?  Their contact had an idea about that, over text, and it seems like Ash got them some extra funds, thanks to her, but...well...he was kinda' with Avelyn on this one.

[color=00a651][i]You can get hired for shit in a place like this, and there ain't much we can't do.  Why else would the Moonstrikers want us?  We're useful...[/i][/color]

There'd always be work for their kind, mercenary work.  And on that note, Nero had this to say on when the right time to stop is on their stock market gamble-thing...

[color=00a651]"You should get out while ya still can.  Gettin' lucky is one thing, but if you're gonna place a bet, do it on something you're involved in.  'Cause if you can't be sure of yourself, what're you even bothering for?"[/color]

Still, if they were basically rich now, then he was getting another drink to wash down the snacks he had.  Nero's eyes settled on something called 'Kazza!', which his Omni-Tool was translating as 'SPICE!', emphasis included.  He was looking at it while some of the others were rough-housing or taking a rest.  Sounded good, like some novelty drink like he'd find back in Japan when he was alot young, copped some yen out of the orphanage coffers, and bought himself something at the nearby convenience store.  It was a bottle that fizzed, which was a good thing, but it was also [i]continuous[/i].  He tried some of it and-  [color=00a651]"Agh, what the [color=00a651]hell?[/color]"[/color]  Think of a ginger beer, but with a strength and a kind of burn like peroxide.  For something not at all alcoholic, it was strong!  He was gradually taking smaller sips when one of the last of their group - Ariel - piped up, asking about the kinds of missions they'd be having.  It was to Ashton, but Nero never passed up a chance to pipe up, if he had something to say.

[color=00a651]"Might be rough stuff, if they wanted [i]us[/i] on board.  We can handle it, though."[/color]