((Takes place shortly after Winterfest— also, trying a new experiment in posting. I've decided to leave it in "play format". Just to see how it's received.))

Aja: :: on the speaker phone in her office, she's busy with papers on her desk:: How's it lookin down there" Rico: Well, one of the build ships blew a circuit and there was a small fire. It's out now but we're gonna be down a build slip for a while so the boys can clean it up. Aja: ::spins quickly in her chair to check out what he just said:: What da hell" Rico: ::laughs:: I'm just kidding. Everything's fine down here. Aja: Yeah, I fergot fer a moment that yer hilarious. Rico: ::his own laughter is heard plus that of a woman:: Just trying to keep up with you, Boss. Aja:: ::perking a brow:: With mah sister's help, no doubt. Rico:: Ajia thought it would be funny. Aja: I'll show her funny. ::mutters then snickers:: Ya two jist remember this fer later. ::chuckles:: Ajia: ::Snickering:: We'll see if you can get us both back. After all....two heads are better than the one atop your shoulders. Aja: ::glances at the phone with a grin:: Catchin up on all the sibling pranks we missed" Ajia: Got a ways to go for that Sis, but I'm sure you'll find out when I'm finished. Aja: I don't think we'll ever get caught up, Sis. But I see yer point. ::grins and glances down at her sister through the window:: And what da heck are ya wearin" Da boys will crash inta things with ya in dat outfit. Ajia: I hardly think they'll go gaga over me in a business suit while Rico's here. ::Audible huff:: Aja: ::snickers:: True enough. But still, yer skirt is mighty short there, JiJi. Ajia: Just because you haven't learned how to show some leg, doesn't mean I can't. ::Grumbles a little:: Besides, the skirt hardly passes my knees, I'm not showing that much leg, Aja. Aja:: Bah. ::leans on the window sill watching her sister on the docks:: I can't climb rat lines in a skirt. It's impractical. Ajia: I'd love to see you try. ::Mutters something to Rico with her hand over the mouth of the phone.:: No ::And:: Chicken....::Are the only things to be heard.:: Aja: Plottin more of mah demise are ya" Ajia: ::Sly voice:: Nope, just telling Rico what?s for dinner. Aja:: Gah! TMI! I don't need ta know that! Ajia: You don't need to know what?s for dinner" Aja:: Huh...Yer being dirty with Rikki! Besides, like Maria would ask my opinion on dinner. She jist puts stuff in front of me and tells me ta eat it. Ajia: Kinky. Aja: ::puts her hand over her eyes:: Hey...quit goosin mah first mate when I'm lookin! Ajia: Then stop lookin! ::Cackles then shouts to the yard:: Aja's a peepin tom! Aja: Ya know...I gots a loud speaker button up here...I could announce ya parade around the beach naked. ::giggles knowing that it's not true, but it would still make her sister blush:: Ajia: Do it! I know who would be the first to come see! ::Snickers:: Aja: Aye. Padriq. ::grins sweetly out the window at her sister:: Ajia: Can't take the Kidd outta the pirate, Sis. Aja: Don't I know it. ::chuckles and glances around for said pirate: Ya know, I think some chick named Janie was askin after him at Winterfest the other night. Ajia: ::Shifts a little against Rico to put her ear closer to the phone.:: Utoh. Go on. Aja: I overheard her talkin ta Stephen. Based on what she was sayin, it didn't sound like she was askin after Robert. That leaves Padriq, cause Diana was there at da festival. Ya know how Stephen is "round her. So it had ta be Padriq. Ajia: Doesn't Padriq have more than just Robert and Stephen for brothers though' ::Looks around:: Aja: Donal. But, I ain't seen him "round in a couple moons or more. Ajia: 'snot like Padriq to have wanderin eyes, Sis. Aja: Oh, I ain't worried about it. Jist thought it was funny, really. ::chuckles:: Especially after all the crap we went through jist ta get here. Ajia: I don't think Stephen knows about the new developments, from what I remember the two aren't that close. Aja: Fair point...I still think he can get stuffed once in a while. But he makes Diana happy, so I jist leave him be. Ajia: ::Nods and pauses....for a second.:: What the hell is he doing" ::Turns to face the window and points towards said pirate over by the ship yard.:: Aja:: Hell if I know. He calls it his special project. ::chuckles and glances over:: I jist hope it ain't eat da paste special. ::laughs:: Ajia: Who decided to give him an arc-welder" Aja:: ::smiles:: Probably Stinky. Or he managed ta get one on his own. Padriq's crafty like that. Ajia: ::Nudges Rico:: He's getting a bit close to the powder with that flame, love. Aja: ::watching with interest:: See" Rikki jinxed it. Ajia: I didn't know you wanted to watch your boyfriend go splody. Aja: Oh, I don't. ::watching Rico run over:: But ya bet yer ass he'll learn ta be more careful if he gets injured once or twice. Ajia: ::Barks suddenly as Padriq turns around to face Rico, his welder still burning.:: Don't set Rico on fire Padriq! Aja:: ::hits the loud speaker button:: NO SETTING THE FIRST MATE ON FIRE, PADRIQ. OR I"LL STRING YOU UP. Ajia: ::Laughs as Padriq turns the welder off and snaps his fingers. His voice billows towards the windows.:: Padriq: STOP RUININ MA DIRTY WORK LUV! Aja: ::over the loud speaker once more:: BOYS. MOVE THAT KEG OF POWDER PLEASE, "FORE HE BLOWS US ALL TA OLYMPUS. ::clicks off the loudspeaker and goes back to talking to Ajia:: Swear ta Zeus, da man needs a babysitter. Ajia: Don't hire Stinky for the job. Aja: ::laughs:: I meant Padriq. Stinky is learning. Slowly. Better than that cabin boy of Padriq's. He's a whole other breed of short bus. Ajia: Shorter than short, short bus. ::Snickers watching the boys trying to teach Padriq to weld.:: Ya think he's trying to learn this stuff so that he can be of more help around here" Aja: More den possible. ::tilts her head watching the boys then looking down at her sister:: By the way, why are you down there" Ain't you got like eighty projects going on at yer barn" Ajia: Finished em. Just in time for Christmas too. Aja: I have ta go through my stock warehouse. See what?s in there. Got some various items I picked up over the years that are interesting. Jist gotta figure out who would like what. ::rubs her head:: I got the cargo set fer a trip ta Ballentine though. So if ya got anything for Ajay, make sure it sees its way ta Dock 4's holding warehouse. Ajia: Already ahead of you Sis, just got done there and was checkin to see if Rico was free for lunch. Aja: ::glances at her watch:: It is about dat time, ain't it' Remember ta ask him if he's figured out if he's coming with ta Ballentine or not. Ajia: Yeah we're stoppin by the Lair, Janan's makin her pork chops, potatoes, and gravy. ::Pauses to look to Rico and belt out over the boy's noise.:: RICO ARE YOU GOING TO BALLENTINE"! Rico: ::stops mid weld and looks at Ajia then up to Aja and makes a shrug:: Aja: Fer da love of Zeus. Oh, screw it. We're jist gonna plan on him going, whether he wants ta or not. Ajia: Ya we'll tie him up or somethin. Aja: I don't need ta visualize that. ::snickers:: Nah. I think he'll go. Mami was saying she was going to be staying in RhyDin City over the Yule so Anya can be at home with the boys. Ajia: Ah. ::Pauses:: Rico seems nervous bout seein Ajay. Think it's cause of me" OH! ::Snaps:: RICO I"LL MEET YOU AT THE LAIR I GOTTA GIVE MY SISTER SOMETHIN! ::Pauses:: Meet me at the barn. Aja: Be down in a bit. Gotta finish up this last file. ::turns away from the window:: Teddy dropped off a mess of contracts and Tristan can't deal with them. I have to. Ajia: For the love of....can't it wait like....twenty minutes" Aja:: It could. But once I leave this office, it'll be hours before I make it back up here. I'm almost done. I'm on the last one. Oh...::grins a little as she reads over the last contract:: Peanut found another way inta yer office. He brought me one of yer color pencils again. Ajia: Oh lord....That means my papers have been doodled on again...::Grumbles:: Aja: ::smiles:: He likes the colors. ::the monkey in question is nowhere to be seen at the moment:: And I don't know where he is right now, either. Ajia: ::Curses:: I'm sneaking a set of those pencils into Tristan's office. I swear. Aja: That should prove to be entertaining. Cause, for the most part, Peanut just moves Tris's chess pieces around. Ajia: Think he does it so he'll win" Aja: ::smiles closing the file:: I have no idea. I just know that Tristan is heard muttering about it later. ::grins:: Alright. I'm done with the files. I'll drop these by Teddy's office and catch up with ya at the Lair. We'll head ta da barn after lunch. K" Ajia: I'm almost to the barn I'll just pick it up and meet you there, you grab the boys or they'll forget lunch. Aja: Oh, ya haven't heard Rikki's latest addition to the loud speaker system have ya" ::glances at the clock on the wall:: In about a minute, a horrendous sound will be heard all over the yards. It's the lunch time bell. Ajia: Oh lord is that what that sound is" I thought it was something wrong with my parts at the barn.... Aja: ::Laughs:: Nope. Rikki's latest in improving work conditions at the yards. Him and that geek of his...Uh, ::snaps her fingers trying to remember the guys name:: Bismark, Biscuit...something...anyway, they've even been talking about networking Rikki's and my house into the whole yard system. So we could keep up with the place when not here. Ajia: ::Shuffles a bit through things to get into the middle of her barn:: Too much crap in this place.....::Mutters then pauses.:: So that's what those two have been up to. I thought it was strange to see him one night other than poker night. Usually he's the one dropping Rico off. Aja:: Yep. He's the mastermind behind the tablets we have too. ::picks hers up as she forwards the call to the tablet and picks up the files:: I do have to admit, that they were on the right track with those. I can keep talking to you on it even though I started the call on the office line. Ajia: ::Silent for a moment:: Rico's still tryin" to get me to use mine. Haven't figured it out yet, other than the games. Aja: I am dreading when Padriq gets his figured out. ::chuckles as she skips on down the stairs and waves to Amy as she heads for the front door:: Ajia: From what I hear he already got the video part down. Aja: Yes. Poor Katt. She's never going to be the same again. ::chuckles as she gets into her truck and glances at her watch:: Bad noise in five...four....three....two...::waits as the buzzer goes off over the yards:: He's really gotta change that noise or Mrs. Johnson is gonna kill him. Ajia: Freakin noise scares me every time. The last time I was using the sander, bout near dropped it on my foot. ::She shuts the door to the barn behind her.:: Did you see Rico's present from me" Aja: ::drives out of the yards to Teddy's place:: I didn't actually. Been preoccupied with one of the theme islands on Arcasa. The weather wards aren't reacting quite the way they were designed to. Ajia: That's not good....::The engine of her car starts.:: I got him a street legal dune buggy. Aja: So that's where that thing came from. ::chuckles:: Sure, he gets da cool present. ::grinning as she parks the truck and hops up the steps to Teddy's office. She slides the files through the slot on the door:: He won't let me drive it. Ajia: Cause I told him not to let you. ::Snickers:: You'll have to wait till Christmas for your present. Aja: No fun. ::mock pouts and glances over at the yards and the men coming out heading for home or the various lunchtime locations in town:: The noise may suck, but it gets heard. ::ponders:: Maybe a bell sound like a church bell. Something melodic. That way Mrs Johnson won't be on my ass about the noise all the time. Ajia: Nah, leave the noise as is, it gets the men away from work....That makes for happy women around town and happy shops. Aja: Then I'm sending Mrs Johnson to screech at you. ::chuckles and heads across the street to the Lair:: I'm going in ta save us a table. Ajia: After Mami, she sounds like a vacation. ::Snickers:: All right, be there shortly. Aja: See ya when you get here. ::looks around and spies the boys heading up the boardwalk:: Boys are on their way here. Ajia: Rodger, over and ciao. ::Click::

Aja: ::grins at Padriq:: You, Stephen and Donal maybe. Robert' Only if he bathed. ::chuckles and takes a bite of her lunch, glancing towards the notch in the wall then back to the boys who haven't yet picked up on the girls or what they are doing:: Padriq: Donal was in town the other day too. ::Chew chew chew.:: "eard he was a" the Inn, bu' dinnae see em. Aja: ::perks a brow to that information. The last time she saw Donal was when Shay was in town. And that was months ago: Ajia: ::Washing her hands in the bathroom she sends a message her sister's way:: ~Stinky and that boy that bothers Rico whenever he sees him for some odd reason.~ Rico: I don't think I've met Donal. ::takes a bite of his lunch:: Aja: ~Rafe. Yeah. Don't tell Rico you've seen "em. I'll explain later.~ ::picks up her tea. Swallows what she was chewing, looking at Rico:: He's been gone fer a while. Padriq: Aye mos" Kidds grew up o' tha sea. ::He smiled to her.:: Naturally tha's where "e been. Ajia: ~I hope so, since he won't.~ ::Makes her way out of the bathroom in time to intercept the pork chops and tea.:: I got it, you handle your rush out here. Albie: Thank you, Miss Ajia. ::toddles back to his station:: Ajia: ::Glances towards the boys through the mirror again before moving for the door.:: Oi! Open the door my hands are full!

Aja: Well, Stephen seems set on stickin around fer Diana's sake. ::sets her tea down after a sip:: I mean, they got their careers going. ::picks up her fork again:: But I don't think he'd be takin any month long trips with her in his life. Unless she went with. Padriq: Nae, he nae be pullin wut "e did wit Jewel on me new Sister. Rico: ::gets up to open the door:: Aja: ::glances up at Ajia coming back in then looks at Padriq:: I didn't know him that well when he was with Jewel. Ajia: ::Grabs hold of the door with her foot when she sees it's Rico opening the door.:: Hey you. Here....take these. ::Hands him the pork chops:: I got the rest. ::Trying to keep him from seeing the boy.:: Rico: Right. ::takes the plate not noticing anything odd in the request. Turns back for the table and sets the plate down:: Who is Jewel" Aja:: One of the Ravenlock clan. ::said to Rico idly, bobs her head side to side a little:: She's been gone fer a while now. Rumor is she's passed on. But it's RhyDin. Gods only know the truth on where she really is. Ajia: ::Sets the fresh drinks down and settles in her spot.:: Padriq: She be Stephanie's ex wife n" mother t' his gaggle o' children. ::Lord knows even Stephen lost count of their brood.:: Rico: Oh. I don't know them at all. ::resettles in his chair:: Recall her name from years back. When we first got back to Arcadia. Aja: Before you became a Bane fanboy' ::chuckles at Rico and sips her tea glancing to the notch in the wall. Sets her glass down watching Rico make a face:: Rico: I am not a fanboy! Ajia: You so are. ::Snickers:: Rico: ::looks between the sisters and decides he'd be outnumbered if he tried to argue:: Fine. I'm a fanboy. Aja: ::grins:: See" Life is so much easier when jist agree with me, Ricks. ::winks at her sister:: Rico: ::he just makes a noise and proceeds to eat his lunch quietly for a minute or two. He looks at Aja thoughtfully for a long moment before asking:: She was around back when Draven and them were, yeah" Aja: Yeah. Way back then. ::nods and takes another bite of her lunch. Chewing and swallowing:: Back in da day. Ajia: ::Shifts and leans against Rico a bit while she listens.:: Rico: You make it sound like ages ago. Aja: Well, it was. ::shrugs and takes another bite of her lunch:: Rico: ::lifting his glass:: Back when Ajay was around, right' ::Aja nods:: Yeah. Ok. That was a long time ago. Padriq: "ina tried t' bea" the sno' outta Jewel fer wut she done did t' Stephen. ::Smiles:: Made me prou" t' "ave "er as me sister in law back then. Aja: ::looks over at Padriq as he speaks. She hadn't seen much of Stephen and Jewel together. She saw them after they had split, speaking at the Beltane festival. But that was all:: Padriq: ::He continued:: Tha's when people sai" "ina wus a" "er lowes". Nae one person I knew liked "er. ::Shakes his head and looks to Aja:: They though' "er no classy tha' the two dime floozies Robby n" Steph "it o' a" the Keg. Aja: ::just nods:: She was one of those that I knew on sight, but never got to know. She was always nice and everything, but she ran in different circles than me. Not being a dueler really, I didn't spend much time in da same place as her. Padriq: ::He shifted to look to her:: Tha's the thin". The people tha' sai" tha' "bou" "er, they dinnae kno' "er either. Bu" she be an all righ' woma", n" she be commin" aroun" in the momma depar"men". Saw "er "ere yesterday "avin lunch wit' our wee Janan. Aja: ::she nodded:: Well, guess it's a moot point now. :: shrugs:: Seein as how she's gone and all. Way of RhyDin City. ::moves around some of her mashed potatoes:: People come and go. ::takes a bite:: Ajia: ::Shrugs:: Don't matter at this point, people are doin for themselves and who they love, she's doin the same. Keepin up her bargain with us and what not. And she's doing better as Padriq says. ::Ajia shoved her fork into a pork chop.:: Just shows ya that people aren't really all that bad once you get to know em. ::There was a small, tiny side glance to Rico before she took herself a bite.:: Aja: ::she blinked and realized they had moved off the Jewel subject to something else at this point:: It's da way life goes. ::shrugs a little with a grin:: I got mah own stuff ta look after, I ain't got time fer RhyDin City's doorstep of disaster. ::chuckles and takes another bite of her lunch:: Rico:: You've got Arcadia, Avalon and Arcasa. ::grins:: Plenty to keep you busy. Aja: Ya mean us, partner. ::motions around the table:: There's more than enough going on in this town, it takes all three of us plus some ta look after it all. Padriq: ::He mused:: And from wut I be "earin" ye momma be tryin" t' fin" ye a real nice lassie t' "ave wee ones wit t". Aja: ::kicks Padriq under the table:: Ajia: ::Blinks, silent for a moment.....then....as loud as ever, probably made their peepin toms deaf.:: WHAT!"!"!"!"!"! Aja: ::looks at Padriq and sighs:: Remind me ta kill ya later, ok" Ajia: ::Padriq nodded to Ajia, a stunned look on his face as Ajia pushed away from the table, throwing her napkin in her spot before stomping out the door.:: Aja:: ::watching her sister go out and then Gibbs slaps Padriq upside the head:: Dumb ass...she didn't need ta know that. ::sighs and gets up to follow:: Rico:: ::rubs his face with his hand:: Padriq: ::Winces:: I deserved tha". ::Hooks his finger into Aja's belt loop.:: Oi. Sure ye be the one t' chase "er" Aja: ::gets stopped and swats at Padriq's hand:: Yes. ::looks to Rico:: You two finish yer lunch. I'll go deal with da sister. ::notes Rico's expression:: Don't worry about it, buddy. Ajia should get used ta Mami being a nosy butt-in-ski. Rico nodded to that giving Aja a grateful expression. Padriq: ::Releases Aja's belt loop and nods.:: "Aye, all righ"." Aja pointed at him then. Aja: "And next time I say "Don't tell Ajia.." it means DON"T tell Ajia." she shook her head and headed out the door.

Rico: ::looks at Padriq, by way of explanation: My mother has forever been a nosy woman. Should've seen her when you started coming around. She fussed for weeks about it. Padriq: ::Grunts and nods:: Ye know, Aja may be able t' do damage control fer now, bu' the real job be on ye ma"e, affore she kills yer mother fer bringin some woman t' meet ye a" work. Rico: Aja's probably already working on that. ::laughs a little:: If anyone ever could handle my mother, it's Aja. She's probably already had several conversations convincing her that trying to force me into something will lead no where good. Padriq: Won' always be "avin Aja t' figh' yer battles ma"e. ::Shrugs and takes a bite of his pork chop.:: Rico: She doesn't fight my battles, Padriq. ::he took a breath:: Aja and me....we're like siblings. Have been for thirty years. She knows me as well as I know me. Same as I know which buttons of hers never to push. It comes from putting our lives in each other's hands. You know what I mean" Padriq: ::He nods:: I jus" be sayin" ye n" "er be thick as thieves, bu' wut "appens when she cunnae fix sommin" Wut "appens when yer mum persists and insists" Ye gonna be able to explain t' Ajia, or yer mum' Rico:: ::thinks that over and nods a little:: Then she's not the woman I need in my life. I don't need the drama. And if this is what is going to happen every time my mother gets an idea in her head, than I don't think it's what I need. Padriq: ::Looks to Rico and shrugs.:: Wut iffin i" nae be "cause ye mum go' n" idea in "er "ead" Wut iffin she's just tryin t' be wut ye mum wan's fer ye, n" wha' no". Rico:: ::sets his fork down:: I can see ya care for Ajia. And I can appreciate that. ::he takes a breath then continues:: But honestly. Ajia is prone to freaking out more than I like. That might be me being used to people who just deal with things and move forward. Ajia's not yet figured that out. Padriq: ::Sets his fork down and nods.:: Par" o' "ow we were raised ma"e. I thin" she be gettin" better, wut wit' Ajay and Aja "elpin" ou", bu' ya know she be a wee bi" insecure. Rico: ::nods:: I know. She hasn't been around..she's still adjusting to having a family. Especially, this family. They are more than a little different. Padriq: ::Fork jab:: Iffin i" be all righ' t' say. I know ye be used to Aja's temperment, bu' Ajia's nae ever gonna share tha' personality trai". Rico: Never said she had to. ::leans on his elbows slightly:: My mother is the queen. She's used to having her way on things. ::smiles a little:: But if you notice, I don't ever do what my mother expects. Or even when she expects it. I like to take my time. Do things on my schedule. Not my mothers. Ajia should've realized that by now. Padriq: She "as. ::Shrugs:: Leas" from wut she's told me. ::Pauses:: I jus" thin" maybe....this reaction....i" nae be ova ye, n" yer mum, bu' maybe "cause o' "er. ::Shakes his head:: She be doin" lo' t' work on "ow she does thin's, changin up who she be n" wut nae, bu' wut if who she be becommin" be nae good nough fer wut she "as "n "er life. Lo' t' fret over I kno' bu' she be a Bird after all. Aja got "er family, work, ye n" yer mum, even me, n" she frets. Wut ye thin" Ajia frets over, she nae nearly "as as much o' a load on "er shoulder as Aja does. Wut iffin she be wonderin" ::puts on her best girly voice, which is terrible:: "Wut iffin" I be changin me life n" I dunnae ge" wut I wan' fer me life "n the en?" Wut iffin i" be jus" wasted n" los?" Wut iffin a" the en" o' tha nigh' I dun changed who I be, n" i" nae be wut' Rico wan's nae more?" ::Makes a face:: Girls thin" bou" tha' shi" ye kno' Specially iffin" they nae be secure. She may like who she be "n the end, bu' tha' will nae matter iffin i" pushes ye n" Aja away from "er. Rico: ::shakes his head:: I don't know what to say about all that. ::he went quiet for a long moment:: I know it's not anything I wanted to deal with. I like my life to be uncomplicated. Mother is as she is. I've accepted that. Padriq: Aye ye've accepted yer mother fer who she be.....::Takes another bite of his pork chop and stays silent.:: Rico: ::eats his lunch in silence for a while:: Padriq: ::Looks up to Rico:: So bou" tha' weldin", thin" we be able t' finish Aja's presen" by Christmas like we planned.." Rico: I don't see why not. ::glad to have moved on to a more sensible topic:: And you won't have to worry about Aja finding out what it is. You know all that trouble Aja's been having with the weather wards in Arcasa" ::he grins:: I've enlisted Parker's help in keeping her distracted for you. Padriq: ::Smirks:: Ye cheeky lil" devil, I jus" knew ye were the bes" man fer the job. Rico: ::smiles at Padriq:: Told ya. In this family, we've got each others backs. ::he paused a moment:: That means you now too. Padriq: ::He smiles back to Rico.:: Aye, thanks ma"e. Rico: ::grins a little menacingly:: But if ya hurt da captain, remember that there are five hundred guys who will hunt you down and kill you. ::holds the expression a moment longer before breaking out into a smile:: If she don't do it first. ::pats Padriq's shoulder:: Padriq: Tha's why I will be nae where ye cun fin" me iffin I be stupid nough t' ?urt that amazin woman. Rico: ::laughs:: You've certainly proven to us that you love her.