ataraxionlogs | EVENT: SPACE PIRATES ▒ OXYGEN GARDENS

[Bela really should have left here by now to find somewhere else to take cover in case things took a turn for the worst; she's unsettled and it isn't easy to hide. The last time that she was this stressed was two months ago, when she was shot in the gut and had to be saved from the manticores.

But here she was, walking aimlessly around the gardens with her gun in one hand and her a backpack over one shoulder. Tired, afraid, and wishing that this whole mess was over and done with before it dragged on for much longer. Bela stops to look at an exotic looking plant-not because she was interested in it but it would provide a distraction for now.]

You don't seem to be feeling particularly secure, my dear.

[It's an idle, casual comment made from a few feet away, but he doesn't move any closer to her. Doesn't even appear to be looking at her at all - more like he'd already been standing there and she'd approached the spot without noticing, but if that was the case or not, well, who was to say?

Gold's gaze remains turned out, observing the few other people moving through this particular corner of the camp, but his note on her appearance had of course been informed. It might not have been noticeable to most others, but having people unsettled was often an aim of his, and he recognised it when he saw it.]

[Choosing not to answer him at first, keeping her focus on the plant. She was close enough to touch it and she reaches out with a hand to brush her fingers along a leaf, feeling the waxy texture against her skin; a strange sensation but this plant seemed to be more alive than she was at the moment. It was probably delicate too, easily broken, not unlike Bela herself.

She brings her hand away from the plant, dropping it by her side before casting her gaze in his direction. Finally, Bela replies.]

That's because I have no reason to feel secure, Mr. Gold.

[There's no one Bela trusts nearby and all she is armed with is a pistol; Clint isn't around and she's worried about him, even when she knew that he could take care of himself.]

[It's a little disconcerting for her to have his name when he hadn't recognised her - here, that is, he was quite used to it back in Storybrooke - but that was a downside of communicating with so many over that network. He makes the connection when she speaks, recognises her voice, and supposes it's a good enough gain from the conversation already that he now has a face to go along with it.]

Are security's defences not meeting your standards? [He gives a small smile, a tip of his head, attention turning to her a little better. Almost a concession for any greeting he hadn't given, for not recognising her.] They seem to be doing a very good job of walking around, looking tough.

[Which he imagines would be enough to keep out any pirates not particularly invested in attempting to get in - but then, he's never had a very good opinion of pirates. They tended to be more trouble than they were worth.]

[She always made a point to remember those who were of interest to her, even in a place like this. Perhaps he could be useful to Bela some day and while she wouldn't expect his help to come for free, it was still something for her to remember.]

There's a clear difference between looking tough and being tough. Apart from that, having everyone grouped together like this isn't the best idea. The pirates would soon learn where we are and they'll probably strike; I don't believe their words about not wanting to harm anyone.

[Her smile is tight and it doesn't reach her eyes. Of course, she will stick to pleasantries and be civil enough but it wouldn't take away how anxious she felt about everything that was going on around her; Bela was scared and she was making a good show of not displaying that so openly, or trying to at least.]

Edited 2013-04-30 19:28 (UTC)

There do appear to be some other matters at work.

[He'd sensed it in the air as he'd arrived, managed to find the source, earlier. A man - but perhaps not a man - placing some kind of protective barrier around the place.]

If you like to place any reliance on that kind of thing.

[Magic. And Gold had not approached him, not then, just in case there was a chance of recognition going both ways. He didn't need people here knowing about his power, not yet. But he could make some enquiries to find out who was familiar with it, who might trust it and the things it could grant them - without too much questioning of the consequences.]

Like some other form of protection?

[She was no stranger to spells or wards of protection, despite not being a magic wielder herself. Bela had an in-depth knowledge of the supernatural but that knowledge was exploited for monetary gain and nothing else. Well, apart from saving her life but that was in vain.]

Let's just say that I am open-minded. I've seen a lot of odd things on board this ship and they have to be seen to be believed.

A protective spell. I imagine that's the best description.

[Because it isn't like he'd be an expert in matters like that, is it.]

The ship is collecting a menagerie of oddities. Having an open-mind is possibly the best way to deal with it. [And dealing with the ship itself. Gold hasn't exactly been fazed by any of the things he'd seen so far, but he could admit (to himself, not to anyone else) that there were matters at play that left him somewhat out of his element. Still, he tips his head, raising his eyebrows at her a little.] And carrying a gun, I suppose.

Ah.

[The only question she had was who had done it in the first place?]

Having my gun on my person gives me peace of mind as well as protection. I'm a good shot. [It's not intended as a warning to him but mainly to show that she wasn't a pushover and she would use her weapon if necessary. Despite being used to strange occurrences on board and living through them, Bela was still on edge, concerned that something else would happen, something that she wouldn't be prepared for.]

How can you tell that it's magic? Was it a guess?

I would hope so. Being a poor shot would make carrying it next to useless, regardless of how safe it might make you feel.

[The threat of a gun might stave off some conflict, but when it came down to it, any weapon in inexperienced hands was as dangerous to them as anyone else. He wasn't surprised, at all, that she was capable with it.]

A guess. [A lie.] The other option is some kind of superpower, considering our selection of oddities. [A pause, a tilt of his head, considering.] They seem much the same to me.

[Another lie. He knew they weren't. Not that he'd had much experience with these abilities some on board claimed to have, but he knew magic. From an outsider's perspective, though, who was to say which was which?]

We do seem to have an assortment of passengers who are not normal. [In fact, she was on friendly terms with a few of them.] A superpower is a possibility but we mightn't be able to find out for certain.

[Bela wasn't sure if he was being completely honest with her because she wasn't always a honest person herself when it came to certain things. Grilling him for information was pointless.]

I wouldn't say they were the same. I've seen what those with specific abilities can do and it doesn't include putting a protective ward around the gardens.

Maybe it's one you haven't encountered before.

[A very limited ability it would be, though, protective wards. Useful, but limited. But that seemed to be the way with a variety of the abilities discussed on board. It had almost inspired him to be glad magic was the currency of power where he was from - but then, magic was never quite something to be glad for.]

Though it sounds like you've more experience in the matter than I have. I'll have to bow to your judgement.

Perhaps.

[She replies with a slight shrug of her shoulders, glancing around the area for a few moments, intending to be wary of what was going on, despite the conversation she was having. Bela couldn't help but be anxious about everything, given the circumstances.]

I possess no magic or any kind of abilities like that but I am aware of such things. The world I come from has witches and warlocks and a few other supernatural creatures. Vampires, for example.

Vampires.

[There's a hint of amusement to the word, even if he's fully aware of there being vampires on board the ship. Not all stories were reflective of other worlds, after all, and vampires weren't something he'd ever really expected to encounter.]

And how is it you became aware of these things? Assuming, of course, that they don't live their supernatural lives openly.

[Her being aware was more useful than not, but only if she didn't have some bad experience to inspire too much caution.]

For the most part they keep themselves to themselves. Only when they need to hunt do they ever come out in public and even then, a lot of people don't know they exist.

[The ones that did were hunters or those who had survived an attack from one of the creatures.]

Remember I told you about the line of work I'm in? The objects I deal with are occult, items of power. They can inflict curses, bring you luck...the list is endless.

[It was easy to assume as much - vampires and the like hiding their true natures in amongst others. Especially in a predator prey situation like that. After all, it wasn't like humans were quite sheep, quick to run away from a threat despite the fact they vastly outnumbered it.

It made Bela's skills more interesting. Means she's likely needed to know how to work in secrecy as well as navigating the secrecy of others. And danger, though her ability to handle that was evident already.]

And that would render your talents even more ill-fitting in our current surroundings, I imagine.

[There isn't much place on a spaceship for cursed objects. But then, there wasn't much place on a spaceship for the Dark One, either.]

Do you find a great market for these items, or do you just enjoy blessing and cursing unsuspecting clients?

You may be surprised at the value of the items I acquire. That dusty old trinket at the bottom of a box could very well be worth millions of dollars. Once I've sold the item on, I don't care what happens to the clients. They know what they're getting into after all.

[Perhaps it was rather callous of her but they were responsible for their own actions as well as their mistakes. Bela did what they asked without question-she owed them nothing else.]

I am a businesswoman. Once I've done the job that is required of me, that's it. Nothing more. Unless the client has another paying job of course.

[Gold smiles a little, isn't surprised about the worth of what Bela might sell at all - even if he himself had never really dealt with them in terms of dollars. Money had become quite meaningless to him after he'd perfected the practice of spinning gold.]

That is always the best way to conduct business, I've found. Things tend to get a little... messy, when other matters are brought into the mix.

[A little more flamboyance (and instability) and she could be much like Jefferson, he decides. And that could make her very useful.]

[She had more than enough money to retire early in luxury but there was a thrill in stealing something and Bela had made it an art form. Of course she hadn't embarked any big heists on board and the only time she had stolen was when she was wearing her mask.]

I like the way you think, Mr. Gold. Perhaps we could conduct business with each other some day in the future. [An open offer, he doesn't have to take her up on it.]

There could be something worth exploiting here.

Perhaps.

[Only because giving an entire agreement would be a little too positive. She could be very useful, but only if a situation called for it, and with the Tranquility's environment being the way it was, he couldn't predict anything like that for certain. But he would certainly take note of the open offer.]

We'll have to see if an opportunity presents itself.

I can be patient.

[For the most part at least. But it really depended on what she was waiting on as well as it being worth it in the first place. Still, another potential business associate couldn't hurt.]

Just contact me via my device should you come across anything of interest.

EVENT: SPACE PIRATES ▒ OXYGEN GARDENS

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