(no subject)

[senseandcecilbility]

The problem with allowing Kevin to explore any market while unsupervised is that sooner or later he will stumble across one gambling den or another, which may or may not result in him being chased by burly individuals a little too eager to fold him into pretzelian shapes.  It is not that possessing a knack for estimating probabilities and having God on his side could ever be counted as cheating. It is just that rational explanations and assertions of fair play tend to fall on deaf ears when one's listeners have been stripped to their underthings. 

 

Honestly, some people just don't know when to stop. 

 

Not that Kevin himself is stopping any time soon. After a few twists and turns, one ruined spice stand, three turned trashcans and one stomped cat's tail, he is crashing right into you. Yes, you.

 

'Excuse me! Excuse me!'

 

The reason for his haste becomes quite apparent when a group of very angry beings belonging to a surprisingly varied selection of species turn around the corner. In compliance with universal protocol, they are also shouting and waving weapons in a most menacing fashion. A rather impressive feat, considering that they are, indeed, stripped to their underthings. 

Comments

[stellarcoffee]

No recreational time for Starfleet captains, not when there's technical manuals, history, and everything else to catch up on. Some of it's dry and mind-numbing, some of it's fascinating to the explorer's mindset, but either way, Janeway is determined to slog through. It's the only way to avoid the guilt that follows disaster just because someone doesn't know how things work in the setting, she figures.

And prolonged study means lugging coffee around to maintain, if not exactly focus, something resembling consciousness. Which is unfortunate when someone gets in trouble for gambling slams into her. Janeway braves herself against falling, but for a moment all conscious thought is tied up in the feeling of a hot drink not quite scalding skin. Old, please, and when she can she'll finally lend Kevin a hand with getting properly on his feet again, eyebrows going up at the little horde of semi-naked people he's acquired.

"Just what's going on, here?"

[senseandcecilbility]

See, he could have avoided this whole incident by merely spreading his wing and flying away, but somehow he doesn't feel that the market is quite ready for a divine revelation yet. And so it is with a measure of remorse that he pulls out a pristine white handkerchief and automatically attempts to swab the front of her uniform. This is a very hurried attempt, truth be told, since his former gambling mates are approaching at disquieting speed. A less polite person would have abandoned the endeavor completely, but Kevin Cecil is nothing but a gentleman.

'Good heavens, one hundred apologies, Captain! I--It is a little complicated!'

[stellarcoffee]

She tries catching his hands, because no amount of mad flailing is going to undo the spill and really this is just making everything much more awkward. Personal space, Mr. Cecil!

Besides, there's those unruly people. "Somehow I don't think it's going to get any simpler. Is there something you should be explaining to a few people?"

That he could easily escape isn't something she knows. But she can certainly default to the assumption that a good speech can resolve the problem of the day.

[senseandcecilbility]

The human lady is grabbing his hands and asking him to deliver speeches? What sort of uncivilized method is that?

'Madam, I am merely a house steward! Words are most certainly not my forte.'

Even with his hands imprisoned, he manages to shield himself behind her. In his defense, it is more out of shyness than actual fear.

'HEY, YOU!' yells one of the pursuers. 'GIVE BACK THAT CHEATER!'

[constableodo]

Odo was getting himself acquainted with the place, in order to be able to do his job well when he would be allowed to. When he saw the young man being chased by a group of people he was likely to have stolen from, he thought best to stop him. One thing, though, he was going straight into Odo. Odo morphed liquid in order to dampen the shock and slow down the young man. He would be better able to catch him afterwards.

[senseandcecilbility]

WHY IS HE SUDDENLY DROWNING? That is not how dry land is supposed to work!

Kevin is now attempting very hard to swim into Odo, except that he has never learned to swim in the first place. That is Mister Break's forte. The result is probably a very successful capture that has the additional benefit of confusing the most violent gamblers beyond the telling of it. Apparently, even in deep space, it is not every day that people witness a gentleman turning into liquid while another gentleman flails uselessly inside him.

[constableodo]

Once the young man has passed through him, Odo morphs back into his humanoid form, turned towards him. He sighs.

"What were you doing?"

[senseandcecilbility]

This is so confusing, all he can do is turn at the now solid person holding his arm and babble with a bewildered look on his face.

'Making a few bets, sir.'

It has just been nine hours!

[constableodo]

Odo scoffs. "What were these bets about?" Were they even legal?

[senseandcecilbility]

'I hope so, sir! I cannot say I am perfectly familiar with the fleet's legal system.'

There is something illegal about the scantly clad creatures firing lasers at them, though. Kevin, who has never seen lasers before, gapes at the pretty lights in nothing but complete confusion.

'...Oh my, what are they doing?'

Honestly, he expected old fashioned bullets, but that seems bad too.

[constableodo]

"So that must mean you have a good explanation for this?" Odo says, as he points at the group.

The group of people firing lasers.

Odo doesn't like lasers. They're painful, and they're messy.

"They are firing at us." Odo sighs. How more obvious can it get?

[crux_npcs]

"What?" Snaps a pale-faced man in dark sunglasses, scowling as he walks in casual civilian tunic and what look to be black sweatpants as he glowers down at Kevin.

[senseandcecilbility]

Kevin steps back, looking dutifully mortified, but apparently not mortified enough to consider that engaging conversation with the pale-faced man is a bad idea.

'My apologies, sir! There was a huge misunderstanding!'

He casts the man an anxious look. Those big angry creatures are approaching and Kevin fears they won't discriminate much between himself and the random stranger.

'Regardless, you might wish to take your leave...' he suggests hurriedly.

[maddeninghatter]

There is really only one explanation for an angry, nearly-naked mob to be chasing down an inoffensive, unassuming gentleman, or rather this inoffensive, unassuming gentleman; and really only one thing to say in response to it:

"Again?"

However, Break being Break, what he does after positioning himself so as to be crashed into (he actually melts out of the way just before impact, and yanks on Kevin's arm, swinging him around) is cry out in surprise ("Mister Cecil!"), as the straw doll on his shoulder shrieks:

YOU TART!

[senseandcecilbility]

It is a sign of Kevin's current state of distraction that he notices Emily's voice before Mister Break's. The result is a matching shriek and a flailing angel who is very much on Emily's personal space.

'IT IS NOT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING!'

[maddeninghatter]

"A little taste of something sweet, and you want the whole pie. Or the whole bakery, from the looks of things."

Break very helpfully kicks over another fruit stand, just as he yanks Kevin into a small alleyway. The angry, naked horde runs past, following the commotion. They're out of immediate danger, for the moment anyway.

"But I must say, I'm impressed. Whatever did you do~?"

[senseandcecilbility]

Terrible bakery and pie references aside, Mister Break is still his hero. Kevin collapses against his side and giggles softly. The shame! And yet he had so much fun!

'They thought they could win everything back if they betted together against me. And...since they didn't have much left, the croupier suggested the clothes on their bodies. Hm, I think I might have taken them a little too literally?'

[maddeninghatter]

"Mister Cecil."

It's fortunate for everybody that Break has learned from his experience in Las Vegas, i.e. do not further incite an angry mob whom Kevin has just fleeced.

"Has it ever occurred to you that you might have a tiny bit of a problem?"

[senseandcecilbility]

This is the most innocent face.

'A problem?'

Does Mister Break think he is sick? He is a little bit less energetic than usual. But he has a warm coat now. He really shouldn't worry!

[bestowmercy]

While Rena had never found her ears to give her any more an advantage in hearing compared to others with a less prominent shape, the crash of cans and the plaintive yowl of a cat offended is hard to miss even over the hustle and bustle of the market crowd. Hence the brief detour from the stalls to that alleyway, just for a peek; was the little guy alright? Did something happen, like a--

Whump. "Oof!"

--half-spin and grabbing at the wall in surprise as a person, rather than a cat, barrels out instead.

[senseandcecilbility]

Oh no, it is the nice lady with pointy ears!

'Madam, madam! Please, run!''

He grabs her wrist and attempts to drag her with him. He shouldn't allow a lady anywhere near such violent company.

[bestowmercy]

Ah, it's the anxious butler from that time-- there's little resistance as she's yoinked along by him, because when someone yells at you to run you usually run first and ask questions later. But certainly questions come to mind, like Why Are They Running and Who Are They Running From and maybe a glance behind would solve that ques--

...tion...

...

Oh. Oh, that's.... quite a lot of scantily clad persons(?) on their tail.

"Mr. Kevin, what---?"

[senseandcecilbility]

The scantily clad persons are yelling rather loudly and don't make the situation any better by firing lasers at them. Kevin, who has never seen lasers before, pulls her into another alley, hoping to lose them.

'It is complicated!'

He steps on another cat. Twice today! What are the chances?

[bestowmercy]

Rena, on the other hand, has seen enough lasers to be considerably alarmed at the severity of the current situation and their place in it, and so keeping up with Kevin's long legs doesn't seems like it would be a bad idea right now.

"Who are those people?!" And firing weapons like that in public, wouldn't the police or security come after the--

Stomp goes Kevin's foot, and this cat, like the one before and all its ilk, makes its displeasure known with a noise not unlike nails on a chalkboard, which might possibly somewhat ruin his attempt at a stealthy evasion. Rena winces in sympathy. Poor thing--!

[senseandcecilbility]

'Those gentlemen are my gambling partners. Now, if you excuse me...'

He dodges behind a trashcan when the so called gentlemen come back to check on the displeased feline. They are certainly firing weapons at them again, which means Kevin is doing his best to tug Rena behind the trashcan with him.

'Madam, you wouldn't happen to know any secret fighting technique, would you?'