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[center][H1][b][u][color=c4df9b]Finbarr Callaghan[/color] and [color=green]Nero Kayakos[/color][/u][/b][/H1][/center]
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[quote]"So, onions, eh?  Dis for the guy that's coming on board, or can anyone try?"

Anyone working the kitchen would remember that while Nero wasn't an accomplished chef or anything, his cutting skills in any context were wizard, and he still could cook for himself.  Finbarr was just better at it.  So, at the very least, he had a competent assistant to work with, if he needed it.[/quote]

[color=c4df9b]"Oh, these?"[/color] Finbarr wiped some of the grease off his hands with a paper towel, glancing back at Nero with his same reactive set of eyes. The crackle of the frying onions filled the air, and the aroma of well cooked food wafted throughout the kitchen, what with at least six of those placed neatly on a plate. [color=c4df9b]"Well, you heard what was said earlier by the Joey person back on the meeting. Kanarusians have a huge appetite because they're shapeshifters, are magical, and are about twice as big as a fully grown man. So yeah, I'm getting onto these before the whole shabang with the liaison comes down. Besides, this brings back some memories of home..."[/color]

Finbarr fell silent. He remembered that many of them have little to no memory of their old lives because of the trauma of the experiments. He was one of the lucky ones. Would that even be a blessing to begin with, anyway?

[color=c4df9b]"Anyway, you can help me by cutting up those..."[/color] Finbarr pointed towards a bunch of uncut onions lying in a tray on the counter. [color=c4df9b]"You're good at cutting stuff up, yeah?"[/color] He added with a slight chuckle.

Nero remembered his past properly - apart from the parts that Dr. Vallance sealed up, though they were released now - though they were all basicallu [i]unpleasant[/i] memories.  So, his response to Finn's cooking was more-or-less a shrug with the respons of [color=green]"You musta' had a better one than me."[/color], noticing that this was the other Marine basically in nostalgia mode.  It wasn't something that he himself had because of his orphan-hood.  Technically, these post-war times were the best he's ever had in his life.  It was why was willing to participate in other people's stuff, getting involved or even giving a damn about others.  They were alright, so he looked after 'em.  Besides, it's not like [i]anyone else[/i] had ever been comfortable around 'im.  So, when Finbarr offered him the job of cutting, he smiled.

[color=green]"Fuck the hell yes."[/color]

Yeah, look at Mr. Yan Can [i]Cut[/i] up here in this place!  It was some rapid-fire work that you'd see only happening in those advertisements for really sharp knives, and he barely had to even look.  He did return to a bit more serious after a bit, though.

[color=green]"This punishment's bullshit, though.  I'm not giving up my snacks.  Most of us didn't even DO anything.  In fact, if I read it right, everything but the stock trading was a setup, and we did everything in our power to get the hell out, safe and sound.  Hell, I didn't even spend much money, really.  If Jonny Asshole wants to treat me like it's still the Ascendancy here, he can suck it."[/color]

In a quick and flashy manner, he produced one of the knives as akin to a middle finger, handle lodged between his other fingers, for emphasis.  Nero didn't think much of people giving him hell for things he neither had anything to do with nor had any means to even prevent.

[color=c4df9b]"Good, good."[/color] Finbarr nodded at Nero as the latter took out one of his knives. Had it been anyone else not included in their merry little troupe of magic children, he would have locked them into a space time bubble while asking a thousand questions, but this was Nero. The guy who slices and dices.

[color=c4df9b]"I know, it's ridiculous."[/color] Finbarr shook his head, remembering the punishment thing. [color=c4df9b]"It's not like you and I were the ones that went on to gamble in the stock market. It was our two love birds."[/color]

Then he remembered that he and Narvia are a thing now... But he'd call their pairing something else. Something that doesn't have 'bird' on it.

[color=c4df9b]"Good for you that you got to spend some of it."[/color] Finbarr shrugged. [color=c4df9b]"I haven't even touched it. I would have put it all in a box or something, for future use. Now that dream is all gone..."[/color]

It was actually kinda' funny, calling those two lovebirds, and not because of the irony involved.  Those two were just generally chill about it publically., as far as Nero knew, or cared.  He didn't actually care, either.  Still, the two of them flubbing this shit up WAS something to get on their case about, and only their case.  The dumb idea of punishing everybody for shit was all on Jonny Fuckwit and his ability to make poor decisions.  In any case, Nero picked up on the nature of Finn's lament.

[color=green]"I get it.  You had some big plans, or at least wanted it secure for something big later.  Those two actually thought I should go into [i]farming[/i].  Me!  I just bought some shit because I didn't [i]have[/i] any big ideas.  I know you just had yours dashed, and...well...dreams like that are just dreams to guys like me."[/color]

He stopped, not only because it was Real Talk, but because the onions were done.

[color=green]"I got into this for the revenge, to get the satisfaction of putting an end to the fuckers that started this mess, and all the ones that caused me hell.  That's what we wanted to do, that's what I got on board for.  Everything else is extra.  Being treated nice, having spending money, eating decent food - that's gravy.  Thing is, though, I [i]like[/i] the gravy.  I just don't think it's always gonna be there, so I shouldn't plan on it.[/color]

Now, a smirk came to his face, before a shadow would briefly envelope them both.  This was an extension of his Shadow-Step that prevented sound from leaving his shadowy form, which was currently encompassing the two boys.  Nero just wanted to be sure they weren't monitered.

[color=green]"That said, I'm not giving over anything I bought, snack or otherwise.  I'm hiding my shit.  I've explored every nook and cranny of this spaceship.  Anyone else who wants to get in on the action, you lemme know.  I think this is a proper use of our powers."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Same, really."[/color] Finbarr took out one of the finished fried onions and placed it onto a plate covered by paper towels, letting it soak up the excess oil. [color=c4df9b]"I'll be keeping my stuff as well... luckily for me, I don't really have a lot of anything here. So hiding it wouldn't be too hard..."[/color]

He noticed that the Nero was projecting a Shadow-Step around the two of them, eliciting a little chuckle from him. [color=c4df9b]"Ah, good job with the silencing thing, by the way."[/color] He reached out and patted Nero at the shoulder. [color=c4df9b]"So, uh, after we bring down the government. That is, if we do succeed... what are you going to do after that?"[/color]

That shadow was just to their plans to rebel against the so-called first mate private.  It was gone once they were talking normally again, meaning if anyone WAS listening, it would be as though it stopped after Nero was talking about the problem of big plans, and then there'd be an awkward pause until the next thing heard was Finn asking about the bringing down of government and what comes after.  To that, Nero shrugged and sighed.

[color=green]"I dunno.  The twosome figured I should settle down, but I don't think it's in my nature to.  Fighting and sneaking around are what I'm good at.  I'm probably a merc for life.  I mean...realistically...if we take down government, and anyone looking to take charge has to work real hard to re-organize things, do you think they'd really leave us alone?  Yeah, sure, we might disappear, but the best way not to be [i]found[/i] has got to be to keep moving."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Or to be somewhere far away and isolated."[/color] Finbarr shrugged in response as he placed the last of the fried onions on the plate. [color=c4df9b]"That is what I was planning, anyway. Get my family off Titan and then go to... Somewhere quiet. We've always wanted that. Oh, and I'll be with Navi too."[/color]

Sniffing, Finbarr turned towards Nero. He took off the apron that he had been using and placed it back on the counter. [color=c4df9b]"But, if we are to do some extra work to stabilize things and get paid for it... why not. Its not like it all ends when the head of the snake is cut off, anyway. There will always be those groups that would try to make a counter-coup, or something like that."[/color]

There was kind of a fiendish 'Oh...heh heh heh' kind of a look when Finn mentioned Narvia, even a chuckle from the knife-wielder.  Not that it was much of a secret anymore, but rather that though Navi kind of blurted stuff out, it was funny to hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak.  Still, he nodded at what Finbarr had to say.

[color=green]"Least it won't be bored.  Now, do we do anything special with this stuff, or is that the end of it?  I got some things to do, and some cake to eat.  Jonny Appleguts isn't getting any."[/color]

Yup, the naming convention he'd started with the crystal lemon bar maker had found a new target.

[color=c4df9b]"Maybe some mayonnaise and dressing."[/color] Finbarr shrugged in respond to Nero's question. [color=c4df9b]"And yes. John Appleguts will not lay a single finger upon these. Because I'll be taking it all."[/color]

Then and there did Finbarr just pop one of the fried onions in his mouth. His face contorted a little bit as it was still hot, but he downed it nonetheless. [color=c4df9b]"Mmm, good and simple. Anyway, you're free to get some, but if your cake just happens to be better... Well, nothing's stopping you."[/color]

Since Nero's face soured when Finn mentioned mayo and dressing for the onions, we can safely conclude that - apart from the onion piece he slipped into his mouth when his hands were working the magic - he would not be partaking.

[color=green]"You kidding?  It's a fucking [i]great[/i] cake.  Almost made me forget that one of the people after us is another shadow user.  So hey, if you see a shadow-thing and you think it's me, better double-check it!"[/color]

Oh, oka- Wait, WHAT?!

Nero saw something, but Finbarr didn't seem to comprehend just what the other boy was detecting. He would just shrug in disbelief as Nero walked away, seemingly in a hurry.