[h2]Peace Be Your Journey[/h2] [h3] Greenleaf Late Morning/Early Afternoon[/h3] OOC: JP between [@Aalakrys], [@MK Blitzen] [img]https://imgur.com/sn9wbri.png[/img] [hider=Second Gear] [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybJgV4Y_tmk[/youtube] [/hider] Cyd kept her eyes closed. At 125 beats per minute, the repetitive melody meant to quiet her brain just wasn’t keeping up. The hot shower may have washed away the smeared make-up and tangled schlock of hair, but as Isaac snored and Mathias slept soundly, her thoughts were still stuck in overdrive. [color=ed1c24][i] Breathe.[/i] [/color] Four, Seven, Eight. Inhale four seconds, Hold for seven, exhale for eight.[color=ed1c24][i] Repeat.[/i] [/color] Focus on breathing, let everything else go, simple in theory, but sometimes ‘things’ just wouldn’t leave! [color=ed1c24] [i]Inhale 3-4 [/i] [/color] [color=fff79a]Why won’t the encryption work?[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Hold. 2-3-4[/i] [/color] [color=fff79a]Try the key again[/color].[color=ed1c24] [i]5-6-7[/i] [/color] [color=fff79a]What is with Sam and[/color] [color=8493ca]Plan B?[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Exhale 3-4-5.[/i] [/color] [color=a2d39c]What’s the next job going to be?[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]6-7-8. Repeat.[/i] [/color] [color=6ecff6] What if Mathias’ hand gets infected?[/color] [color=ed1c24][i] Inhale 3-4 [/i][/color] [color=fdc68a]Did I re-bandage it well enough?[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Hold 2-3-4 [/i] [/color] [color=a2d39c]Where is the next job?[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]5-6-7[/i][/color] [color=8493ca]Plan B.[/color][color=ed1c24][i]Exhale 3-4-5.[/i][/color] [color=6ecff6] Mathias.[/color][color=ed1c24][i]6-7-8. Repeat.[/i] [/color] [color=6ecff6]Isaac.[/color] [color=ed1c24] [i]Inhale 3-4 [/i] [/color] [color=fff200][b]Gunshot[/b].[/color] [color=ed1c24] [i]Hold. 2-3-4[[/i] [/color] [color=fff79a]Encryption.[/color] [color=ed1c24] [i]5-6-7[/i] [/color][color=fff79a]Microchips.[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Exhale 3-4-5[/i][/color] [color=8882be]Plan B.[/color][color=ed1c24] [i]6-7-8. Repeat.[/i][/color] [color=f9ad81] Why this ship?[/color][color=ed1c24] [i]Inhale.[/i][/color] [color=fdc68a]Waving cats.[/color] [color=ed1c24] [i]Hold.[/i][/color] [color=fdc68a]The fed.[/color][color=ed1c24][i] Exhale.[/i][/color] [color=fdc68a] Why is no one looking for the fed that was gunned down? [/color][color=ed1c24][i] Inhale[/i] [/color] [color=00aeef]P[/color][color=39b54a]e[/color][color=f49ac2]n[/color]. [color=ed1c24][i] Hold. [/i][/color] [color=6ecff6]Mathias could get caught.[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Exhale.[/i] [/color] [color=6ecff6]Isaac’s broken heart.[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Inhale.[/i][/color] [color=fff79a]53R3N1TY[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Hold. [/i] [/color][color=a2d39c]The next job.[/color] [color=ed1c24][i]Exhale. Repeat. Inhale. Inhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. [/i] [/color] [color=8882be]Plan B.[/color] Cyd’s eyes snapped back open. Sleep was being an elusive little prick. Coffee. Maybe coffee would help slow things down. There was always coffee. “Padikos,” she whispered to her older brother when he stirred as she got up, indicating she was hungry. He mumbled something about bobotie as she pulled on a button up over her tank. Even conditioned air was lank hot on Greenleaf. “Ja, nee,” she replied, patting his arm reassuringly before slipping out of the shuttle. Feeling refreshed after a shower that scrubbed away the sweat, remnants of paint, and jungle from her body, Penelope felt much lighter. As if all the sins of her past had been washed away with the clarity and certainty her father's words had given her. Another option than what she thought possible - what she'd not allowed herself to consider a possibility. She was just about the most cheerful picture carrying a bundle of laundry tied up in her sheets and thrown over her shoulder. Once it was deposited, she was dressed for the weather outdoors and there she'd go. Her last day home would fully be enjoyed. At home. Just as she crossed from the galley to the catwalk, however, Cyd was coming from the shuttle the siblings rented out. Penelope's smile brightened. "Mornin' - or afternoon, as it is. Seems we got separated last night." “Howzit?!” Cyd greeted, slightly startled. “Sorry, that happens, lank crowded, oweh? Did you have fun though? Trade kandi?” "I must've … things are a little fuzzy, if I'm honest. Got back in one piece though, and then some." She pulled another stray leaf from the bundle that she'd brung 'round her shoulder and rested by her foot, flashing it to Cyd with a more sheepish turn to her smile. Really, her brain still felt wobbly, like it was sloshing around this way and that. "How about you and the fellas?" Cyd smiled and nodded. “They’re ibhabalazi,” she explained, putting prayer hands to her cheek as she tilted her head, indicating they were sleeping it off. “The DJ was lekker, he had insane drops. I hope you tag to the next one, good time for all.” Penelope recalled the way the alcohol she'd started off with made the music curve and flow around her. There had been plenty of faceless dance partners to enjoy it with. Flashes of lights and sound captured a few moments of the night in memory, but once she tasted the first 'kandi' trade someone placed on her tongue, that's when things took on a more streaked and hazed color of rainbows across the night. Thankfully, this open invitation meant she hadn't done anything too out-there. "I just might." There was a more appreciative turn to her soft smile a beat before she looked as if something just occurred to her. It wasn't a recollection that told her one way or another if she'd gotten more than friendly with the pretty lady before her, which had crossed her mind enough to warrant a worry, but rather that there was something special for Cyd and her brothers in her bag. Just before going to rummage in her bag with her free hand, she had given the universal 'one sec' gesture. Her fingers found purchase on the neck of a long bottle and she pulled the faux glass free. "Here, this is for you and your brothers. Thanks for having me along for'a good time." "It's pure water, from the crystal clears further in the jungle here on Greenleaf. If you chill it, it's the most refreshin'." Penelope said as she handed the resealed bright blue bottle, chosen as a slight hommage to who she was handing it to. The surface was bare except coordinates written where a label could have been. “Shot, mate!” Cyd exclaimed. “Err… I mean, thanks, thank you.” She couldn’t wait to share it with the boys. She took a moment to admire the bottle. Reusable! At least Greenleaf learned from the Earth that was! “I love the container! One of my favorite colors. No gifts needed though, oweh? Your company is enough. Wish I had more of it at the rave. I saw you ducked out. I know it can be loud, and crowded, and sometimes people get handsy.”