Alexis and Sierra

[Zapp]

A ravishing redhead walked into the bar, obviously Libertonian by origin, and went straight to the counter. She ordered sake, beaming smiles at all the girls in the room, some friendly and some seductive, which are usually returned in like.

Alexis Almira drank in silence, waiting to be approached by a curious Chrysanthemum.

A few minutes later...

Takako walked into the tea house, muttering Kusari curses on every trader who'd slipped past her that day, and gave CobaltWatsas a somewhat disgusted glance before heading up to the bar, happening to take a seat alongside the strange redhead. She shot the woman a surprised glance and said "I am not seeing you here before now..."

"I imagine you haven't," she replied, drinking some of her sake. "I've been around, mostly collecting the GMG bounties in Sigma 13... a Dragon saved my butt the other day, though I think I could've handled the five Corsairs myself," she laughed.

"Anyways," she continued, gregariously, "I just adore the Chrysanthemums. Love the cause. Can I get you a drink?" At the last, she has a certain twinkle in her eye and set to her smile.

Takako shrugged. "If you are insisting, tea would be nice." She stretched. "Aaah... so much time in cockpit. Is nice, having room for actual moving..."

Alexis' smile widened. "Why, I do happen to give the most lovely massages..." She waved at the bartender ("Steve, is it?") to bring her newfound friend a drink. "Perhaps, if you have time later, I could demonstrate it to you?" She takes another sip of her sake.

Takako raised an eyebrow. "You are... how is it you are saying? Coming on with me, yes?" She received her Cardamine-infused tea and took a sip with an amused half-smile. "I must be saying, I am receiving many coming-ons from pervert Junker, and from bartender. But not from woman before. Is new." She set the cup down. "Word of advice. If you are not liking Cardamine, I am recommend you are staying with sake. Many Cardamine in tea."

"Coming on to you, dear," Alexis corrected, "And I'll take note of the Cardamine in the tea... I do adore you Chrysanthemums, but I'm not a huge fan of the Outcasts... I mostly ignore them because of you lot." She smiled, then asks, "So, never had a girl 'come on' to you before?" Another sip of her sake taken, and she ordered another.

"No, never." Takako shook her head. "Is not something I am expecting." She finished her tea. "Am Takako, by the way. Nakajima Takako."

"Why I'm Alexis Almira, hon," she said, proffering her hand, "Freelancer extraordinare. Just bagged me three Corsairs, by my lonesome. So..." she said, trailing off and looking suddenly sheepish, "you open to new experiences, dear?"

"Pleased for meeting you, Alexis Almira," Takako said, bowing slightly. "What kind of new experiences? Like, seeing no trader taking shortcuts through space of Sisterhood and Blood Dragons?" She laughed. "That will be a day... But, in seriousness, what experiences are you meaning?"

At about that time, CobaltWatsas stumbled back into the Tea House. Having sobered up just enough to use basic english.

"Dagnabbit! Mah ship is totalled! Who could have done such a... *gasp!*" He abruptly stopped as he saw Ironwatsas, who turned around, equally shocked.

"...I knew this day would come..." He stated coldly.

The two stared at each other dramatically for a while, taking in the implications of each other's presance.

Most of the people in the tea house were watching the two, confused. Naomi tapped Takako and Alexis on the shoulders. "Yeah, we may want to take this elsewhere. I think this is about to get really screwy in here."

Takako scowled. "Yes. Is good idea. Alexis, we should be going somewhere quieter to get away from baka cyborg and baka relative." She set her finished tea down. "My room, perhaps. Is easier for talking in private."

Alexis smiled at Takako, nodded, and whispered, "Maybe your room is best. Come on hon, let's go." She stood up, downed the rest of her sake, and allowed her new friend to lead the way out of the Tea House.

The next morning...

Takako woke up slowly, murmuring in her sleep, and then rolled over, and was rather shocked to see the slumbering form of Alexis Almira in her bed.

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