You're escorting me through my travels. I come from a rich family and they are seeing that I have safe passage home. [ there is a tinge of sadness in her smile, though she tries to be reassuring as she pats his arm gently. ] How does that sound?
[ she can protect herself – there's a knife tucked against her leg and another against her upper arm beneath the fabrics of her coat and skirt. it's still reassuring to have someone with her, even if she's gone on similar missions on her own since she was even younger. that was when she was on the other side of the law, of course. ]
[ He Ming shoots her a grin, one that's almost grateful. He wants to give, so he's happy when someone is willing to receive. ]
Then let's go!
[ The cafe they enter is warm inside, full of yellow lights and green glass-like bowls that bend the light in interesting ways. He Ming straightens his back and squares his shoulders. He's an escort for her, after all. ]
[ the place looks as if it cannot decide if it wants to be a nightclub or a cafe but sola thinks it adds to the charm of the place. the walls are lined with neon but none of it feels cold or unwelcoming. she holds tight to his arm as they step further into the space and lifts her chin to peer over the taken tables in search of an empty booth. ]
Just a simple green tea, please. I'll get us a table over there.
[ After they part ways, He Ming goes to the counter. He positions himself to keep Sola in his peripheral vision. After the alien dispenses the tea from a canister and gives He Ming his glass of water, he returns with his hand full. ]
[ sola slowly stands to remove her cloak, casting her gaze subtly across the room. sure enough, there is a rugged-looking man with a cap and a decorated jacket. as sola turns back to he ming and fully settles in her seat, she makes a soft noise of discovery and smiles at him. ]
I didn't even have to show you the holo, [ she exhales, giving his hand a squeeze. with their table set and a tea to steep, sola reaches beneath the fall of dark hair to adjust her golden earpiece. it isn't very strong, the technology far behind what exists today, but she can at least try to tune into the captain's conversation. ]
Keep an eye out for me, will you? I will have to concentrate while we chat.
[ With that? That's a tool He Ming has never seen. He controls his open curiosity, though, because they are 'working'. Instead he follows her directions and arranges himself in a casual lean where he can keep the room in his peripheral vision.
This is a type of work He Ming isn't used to, either. He can't quite sit still, and after about a minute he starts moving to pour them each tea. At least that would be something to do with his hands. ]
[ subtly, sola removes one of the pieces from her ear and gently places it around the shell of he ming's. they both look rather smart in their gilded spyware. her smile is a little catlike in nature as she lifts the cup of tea to her lips. they're both now tuned into the converstion she has directed the signal towards, all to do with routes and deliveries.
sola is an expert at this by now, constantly trading and haggling for information and technology so she can find the greatest riches for her crew. her memory is keen enough that she doesn't need to take notes though she does mouth a few key words to herself to make sure they stick. ]
[ With the tea shared and a topic to focus on created, He Ming settles once more. He keeps his gaze towards the door, at least, and not on their target. ]
Yeah, I heard him... is that enough for us make a move? Are we, you know, stealing from him?
[ That would be illegal. So of course He Ming is smiling at Sola when he asks. ]
[ sola's smile turns catlike and she takes another sip of the tea between them, licking her lips daintily. ]
Oh, my dear, it will be even better. We will be taking these supplies off the hands of the baron they're intended for, [ she whispers, a twinkle in her eyes as she does so. ]
So we'll wait for him to deliver, and then make our move?
[ He Ming angles himself away from the rest of the room. Sola's speaking, and if their listening is over then he doesn't have to keep as much of an eye out. ]
Swooping in to take it from the intended recipient... that does sound fun.
I highly doubt that the good sir would miss any of these treasures. He has more than enough.
[ and that should be going to people in need. people like them, of course. there are repairs that must be done and mouths to feed and – well, they deserve some riches after the hardships they have just experienced. ]
I haven't come on a job like this with the crew yet.
[ He Ming comes from a background of following orders, which means he can play nice. But he also comes from being alone but for the voices that whisper to him even now as they sit in this cafe, surrounded by physical bodies and the clamor of everyday life. It's odd to be with people, let alone a team. ]
But I trust you guys. You're smart. Or at least you are, Sola.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ squeezing his arm, she tries to pull him back. ] Let us not let him know that we're looking for him.
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Right, right. We'll be subtle. What's our cover story? In case someone asks.
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no subject
[ He Ming squeezes her arm back. But for all his lightness and willingness to brush over things, he sees that she's holding back. ]
You know I'm going to keep you safe.
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I know. I believe that.
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Then let's go!
[ The cafe they enter is warm inside, full of yellow lights and green glass-like bowls that bend the light in interesting ways. He Ming straightens his back and squares his shoulders. He's an escort for her, after all. ]
Would you like me to order you a drink?
no subject
Just a simple green tea, please. I'll get us a table over there.
no subject
[ After they part ways, He Ming goes to the counter. He positions himself to keep Sola in his peripheral vision. After the alien dispenses the tea from a canister and gives He Ming his glass of water, he returns with his hand full. ]
Think I saw our man.
[ He'd looked over the room as he walked. ]
Your ten o'clock.
no subject
I didn't even have to show you the holo, [ she exhales, giving his hand a squeeze. with their table set and a tea to steep, sola reaches beneath the fall of dark hair to adjust her golden earpiece. it isn't very strong, the technology far behind what exists today, but she can at least try to tune into the captain's conversation. ]
Keep an eye out for me, will you? I will have to concentrate while we chat.
no subject
[ With that? That's a tool He Ming has never seen. He controls his open curiosity, though, because they are 'working'. Instead he follows her directions and arranges himself in a casual lean where he can keep the room in his peripheral vision.
This is a type of work He Ming isn't used to, either. He can't quite sit still, and after about a minute he starts moving to pour them each tea. At least that would be something to do with his hands. ]
no subject
[ subtly, sola removes one of the pieces from her ear and gently places it around the shell of he ming's. they both look rather smart in their gilded spyware. her smile is a little catlike in nature as she lifts the cup of tea to her lips. they're both now tuned into the converstion she has directed the signal towards, all to do with routes and deliveries.
sola is an expert at this by now, constantly trading and haggling for information and technology so she can find the greatest riches for her crew. her memory is keen enough that she doesn't need to take notes though she does mouth a few key words to herself to make sure they stick. ]
Do you understand?
no subject
Yeah, I heard him... is that enough for us make a move? Are we, you know, stealing from him?
[ That would be illegal. So of course He Ming is smiling at Sola when he asks. ]
Or are we doing something more subtle?
no subject
Oh, my dear, it will be even better. We will be taking these supplies off the hands of the baron they're intended for, [ she whispers, a twinkle in her eyes as she does so. ]
no subject
[ He Ming angles himself away from the rest of the room. Sola's speaking, and if their listening is over then he doesn't have to keep as much of an eye out. ]
Swooping in to take it from the intended recipient... that does sound fun.
no subject
[ and that should be going to people in need. people like them, of course. there are repairs that must be done and mouths to feed and – well, they deserve some riches after the hardships they have just experienced. ]
I think this ought to be cake for us.
no subject
[ He Ming comes from a background of following orders, which means he can play nice. But he also comes from being alone but for the voices that whisper to him even now as they sit in this cafe, surrounded by physical bodies and the clamor of everyday life. It's odd to be with people, let alone a team. ]
But I trust you guys. You're smart. Or at least you are, Sola.