Raiha

[quote name='Lunox'][font=trebuchet ms] [font=trebuchet ms]It worked for Jimmy Carter after the Watergate scandal, so it's probably working for Obama.[/font][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]And then Carter proved to be the most loathed ex president. He was also World's Most Ineffective President ever. Hostage Crisis anyone? Say what you like about Bush, but he actually took action, whether you agree with those or not. He did not spend his time in office going: "Well gee I dunno. Maybe we should try to talk Iran out of slicing the heads off of American citizens." So while it got him elected, it also got him universal disgust from the American public as well as one measly term that everyone was only too glad to kick him from back side first.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='DeathKnight'][color=crimson]The Democrats will heal much better if Hillary Clinton takes some basic actions of support towards Obama instead of suggesting continually that the outcome can shift dramatically given several more months of her dragging it out.[/color][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Oh yes, and maybe I can stop the tides from coming in and then maybe the world will suddenly be covered in pink flowers and we can dance around endlessly with our elbows linked, singing about trains and fluffy bunnies. Not happening. She was going to support Obama in a speech but then she decided to go home and 'think about it.' And since she brings nothing but negatives to the table.....exccept [I can't believe I'm saying this] perhaps a sense of more experience at virtually [b]everything[/b]. Furthermore, she'll appeal this all the way up and down the bloody lines. And the amusing thing is now nobody can complain about the popular vote and stealing elections. Because we'll be too busy laughing the irony and getting whiplash from it all. But while I'm interested for the minute, does anyone else think BIll Clinton is looking like ten miles of bad cliche lately? And my god, his face. He looks like a coke head. ......oh wait. And no lectures about his heart surgery please. That has nothing to do with it.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I settled for the moderately rude awakening and a pleasant view of how lounge singers live their glamorous lives...drinking coffee doused in in sugar...[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Aaryanna'][COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="Book Antiqua"] Personally, I think the stuff is kind of gross. [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I concur. However I am more put off by mustard greens. The smell. The bitter taste... OH GOD! Here's a sign that the vegetables and greens might not be good for humans. Even BUGS won't infest them.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/avatar16_guest.gif[/IMG][IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/avatar6_guest.gif[/IMG][/center] [left][i]Ilona staggered back from her last late night show at Club Kimera, nursing a mild headache. Some nincompoop in the sound department had made a mistake with her in ear monitor and midway through the musical bridge of one of her pieces, the feedback had nearly shattered her left eardrum. To add insult to injury, her room's atmosphere was hovering somewhere between swamp and jungle. The humidity was enough to choke a water buffalo, and Ilona L'Marcelle was no water buffalo. After showering, she collapsed into bed, as inert and lifeless as a swamp log. And just when her dream was reaching the good part, her door began to beep. Loudly. In her ear. Cursing in a mix of several latin languages, Ilona groped around her table for the sturdy carbon fiber glass resting on her book, and hurled it at the door, the sensors registering its presence and sliding open. To Cadet Hellings, who had been asked to wake up the one passenger who was completely late to the shuttle, it had been a bad morning. But the sight that greeted him at the door made it a much better morning. In what could be generously considered a black babydoll, Ilona lay sprawled across her almost neatly made bed, one sheet twined around her left leg, her arms spread eagle while her hair curled down around the small of her back. His voice quavered slightly when he spoke.[/i] "Ah, Miss L'Marcelle?" [i]His answer was some kind of non verbal vocalization that he took to mean "YEs Cadet?"[/i] "I was asked to come escort you to the shuttle. You were selected to see the Outpost with several other passengers in a random selection of-" "Ugh. Can't they ask someone else?" "No Miss. I'm sorry, there are no exceptions." "Oh [i]fine.[/i] Could you make me a cup of coffee then?" [i]She pointed without lifting her head up from the pillows and he followed her gaze to the innocent looking coffee machine. Quickly, he strode over to start the hot water when she sat up, looking reasonably tousled. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her pull on a pair of black slacks and a silvery halter top, her hair tossed up with two banana clips almost carelessly. And yet she still looked perfect to his rather untrained eyes. While she laced up her boots, he handed her the coffee after pouring in enough sugar to reanimate a corpse.[/i] "Here you are Miss. Are you ready now?" [i]She took one sip, then another, regardless of the fact that it was still steaming, and then nodded, looking almost alive again.[/i] "As ready as I'll ever be." [i]She snatched up her handbag that she'd tossed over the chair at her desk the night before and her M.D. player. Walking next to the young cadet, she willed her eyes to finally come into focus, and noticed Devin Letrad coming around a corner in their direction. Nobody spoke until they reached the loading deck and the cadet vanished after a nod in Ilona's direction and a furtive glance once she'd turned around, coffee still in hand.[/i] "Mr. Letrad?" "Ilona L'Marcelle. I saw you at the opening party. You were very nice." "And you didn't stop by to see me at Club Kimera ever after? I'm crushed." [i]She took another swig of coffee and gave him a mock disparaging glance as she did, dissolving into giggles.[/i][/left]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I live in San Bernardino right now, so the Mexican food is the best. Real Mexican food. So none of that Chili's nonsense, no excess of cheese. Just salsas and meat and corn rolled tortillas. From the gods. But when I'm in Nor Cal again, in a particular town I visit, the Phillipino food is unparalleled in their levels of grease, flavor, and saffron. They make the best rice, the best skewered chicken, the best pork ribs. I can't really explain it because I'm going to go out on a relatively thick limb here and tell you that most OBers have no bloody clue what Pansit is. Oh well. But as for my own? I love my mother and grandmother's hand made dumplings and fried rice. Their Western Chinese food, and by western I mean from Western China, is simply divine. I dream about it when I'm away.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Apparently there's a push now among the slightly more guilty 'green' and anti 'global warming' crowd that are advocating commercialization and distribution of bugs as an alternative source of protein. Sprinkled on pasta they're apparently tangy and interesting. Apparently they're better for you and better for the environment because they cost less to raise and don't produce all that methane that cows and pigs do. I don't personally think climate change from man is a viable issue but let's not talk about that please. Please. The point is. Have you ever, or would you ever, eat bugs as a replacement meat source? I personally have been dared to eat crickets but the day I eat crickets is the day I'm starving in a cage somewhere in the jungle. Butter worms anyone? Flying ants? I hear those taste like wet pistachio nuts.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Epitome'][size=1][color=#4863A0] I did too. Before I started smoking pot, I told myself I'd never do it. I did it. So I told myself I'd never do anything worse. I did. I tried cocaine. I then told myself that I would never do it again. I did. So I told myself I wouldn't use heroine. Can you guess what happened? I did. This is a progressive thing. Some don't get that effect yes, but some like me did. That is why I am so against it. In an indirect way, weed ruined my life.[/size][/color][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]In an indirect way? Then why say that? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that it was your own willpower that ruined your life? If you had simply known when to stop, or to say no, you would've never done pot in the first place. It's a progressive thing for you. Not everyone. And that almost 100% seems wrong when you have at least five people going "not at all" in a thread with less than 20 people in it. I've watched my pothead friends cut coke on the table for a friend, but I never thought: "Well that seems like a brilliant idea." I also have seen them switch E pills from a friend for joints instead. And the four of us never thought using E would be a good idea either. None of my pothead friends use any other illegal drugs, they all are getting 3.0 GPA averages in college, and by pothead I mean three to four times a week. When I use pot, I end up lying flat on my back in my friend's bed, listening to Pink Floyd with him and watching shadows dance on the walls. I didn't feel a pressing urge to do anything else my friend's offered me. And while another non pothead friend suggested something I had the wherewithal to tell him to drop dead. I find pot useful for experiencing music in different ways as well as relaxing after the mind numbing effects of mid-terms or finals when you're doing 20 units a quarter. But this sparks my real question: How the hell did you make the leap from weed to heroin? Nevermind. I don't want to know. On the other hand, why let your negative experiences with substances ruin your life? It's not like you died from it all. And if your life is ruined, that's odd. Because you're clearly typing coherently and capable of getting online and talking to other humans. Wouldn't "ruined" be more fitting if you lost control of your limbs, or your brain, or your ability to breathe?[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Epitome'][size=1][color=#4863A0] Now, I didn't blatantly admit it either when I brought this topic up when I was up for it being legalized, but no one here has just straight up said "I want it legalized so I can blaze out legally." Now no one has said it, but I'm almost 100% sure that all of you that are up for it being legalized, smoke the green. Doesn't that make sense?[/size][/color][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Not at all. Did you even read my post? I don't want to pay taxes on it because unlike the majority of kiddies here, I'm old enough to have to actually care about where my money comes from to do any particular vice that takes my fancy. Here's what I say. "I am not up for it being legalized, and I smoke the green." Oh yes and you're so right Beth dear. "Anger. My Anti-Drug."[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Indi'][COLOR="Indigo"] Besides, I don't need your permission to flay Prem alive if I so choose. If I had a torch and a pitchfork, I would not be putting it to such a [I]simple[/I] use. Oh no... that's far too nice, to simply roast and eat someone. I can do much better than that. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Flambe, saute, roast and serve with an amusing little gravlax.... The culinary possibilities are simply endless.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Tahoma"]Oh Will Smith. He never goes away. He's insipid! Like leaking propane![/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I don't support legalization because honestly, who wants to have to pay taxes on something else they enjoy? I don't. That and it'll turn into one of those huge lumbering bureaucracies that just make you want to drown yourself in the more legal alcohol. While I personally see no harm in pot, just like there's no harm in alcohol or any harm in anything provided it's used in moderation.... I'm sure the typical 'pot is the devil's tool and a gateway drug to boot' crowd will disagree with me. But as someone who has a non addictive personality to most things, I suppose I'm a minority because the typical 15 year old who experiments with pot will obviously end up doing cocaine off of his girlfriend's rear end by the time he's 18. Or will he? And by 'got into' do you mean began using chronically because I've used it a certain number of times and have yet to experience a loss of interest in anything besides perhaps listening to my room mates complain to me about my existence.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]I heard voices in the other room, after the shower, washed clean of blood. No more smell of his bad cologne on me. No more smell of engine oil on my skin. I felt empty and drained, somehow hollow even though I could hear the blood rushing in my ears, reminding me I was still alive. Even though I'd seen my death staring at me in the reflection of the squad car, I could see my own life back where it should've been. If not for Kenso's intervention, Jae would've been face down on the concrete slab like me. Maybe not the same death, but dead like me. I turned and dried myself too vigorously, scrubbing my body dry of all moisture, too much like his sweaty hand on my face. I pulled on a simple white nightshirt, ordinary and uninteresting, my hair clasped back with two clips made of wood. I looked in my reflection and saw the yellow pall of my asian skin in the poor fluorescent glow of cheap light bulbs. There were only empty dreams here in the mirror. Not sure if Kenso would stay, or if he just wanted to talk like I hoped, I picked up the glass of water I'd taken into the shower and opened my bedroom door back to the kitchen.[/i] "Raiha?" "...Gavin?" [i]For a second, the glass seemed to float in midair, and then crashed to the hardwood floor, sending shards skittering all the way to the counter. My feet seemed to have trouble registering the hardness of the floor and I felt myself sinking into the ground. Kenso moved faster than Gavin, catching me seconds before my head collided into the floor, while lights danced in my vision. In a quick movement, his feet safely shod in black boots, he carried me across the shattered glass and eased me into the only unoccupied wooden chair at the table.[/i] "You're not dead." [i]My eyes were having trouble focusing, and every word that floated into my mouth seemed to fall back into the roiling chaos that was eclipsed by two words. 'Gavin died.' Everyone at work had told me to move on. The government had said that everyone had died in that operation overseas. Maybe they were right. I had no way of knowing. He didn't reach across the table to touch my hands, and for that I was grateful. My fingers weren't visibly quaking, but I could feel them moving without my help. Jae put a hand on my shoulder, her fingers warm on my bare skin. Kenso didn't look surprised, a mirror of Jae's face, while I suppose all the color had drained from mine.[/i] "No, I'm not. I don't know why they told you I was dead." "I should've known the government had lied. But I can't live on false hope. But then again, there's nothing to live on right now." [i]Jae sat down next to me, close enough to hold me while I shook quietly, mind almost empty under my skin. I forced the words out of my mouth.[/i] "Mike's in a gang now. He runs with some kids down the street. Fights in the club, runs drugs to bring food to the table. I can't stop him from doing it anymore than I can stop myself from just going to work every day." [i]I told myself I wouldn't break down in front of Kenso and Gavin. Two men I respected. One I always knew was alive. One I had been conditioned to think was dead. The only person I didn't mind really was Jae. She'd seen me cry once before, when I found Mike washing the blood from one of his shirts. When I'd pulled a bullet from his side. And now? Gavin represented an entire lifetime I'd divorced myself from. It wasn't me that had loved him body and soul five years ago. Was it?[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][b][i]1500 years before the Clone Wars Planet Obern Data Stream 8472 Archived by Ireth Sharazai in 1600 BBY[/i][/b] [i]A human voice speaks to you as if through a muted chamber with no echo, no reverberation, no altered voice.[/i] "These are the recovered files from the last recording device found on Planet Obern before the migration. They have been restored to their original state as much as possible for the sake of history and the sake of the fallen who bravely defended the near Humans as they escaped the scourge of the Sith Lords and their armies." [i]A soft whir, click, and the stream begins to run. It begins with a voice run through a com link, static distorting the stream.[/i] "Captain, the last are making their way to the hanger now. It looks like most of them will make it." "What of the Jedi sent to assist their evacuation?" "They've not shown up at the rendezvous point sir." "Very well." [i]Jedi El Morpheus stood with a blank expression, a simple lightsaber of blue held in one hand, and com in the other. Relaxed in both appearance and in reality, he stood with his back to one of the several corners while the frightened Oberns made it to the evacuation sites, several with screaming children in tow and some with wounds of varying severity. As the children were pulled to safety first and the last of the ships began boarding, the explosions began to grow louder and the blast doors opened inward. A storm of Sith troops swarmed through the opening, and El Morpheus, the last of the Jedi living on the planet stepped down from his vantage point and raised his weapon in one hand, the other hanging loose at his side. To the casual observer, if one could've been found at that point, he seemed almost half asleep, his eyes half closed as if he were merely taking a stroll down steel steps towards a mass of drone fighters. Raising his saber, deflecting blaster shots almost lazily, he flicked each from their trajectory, small explosions pocking the walls on either side, puffs of shattered stone mushrooming outwards. The squadron fell like flies around him, some taken out by their own shots, others by his hand alone. And finally, as the last near Humans made it to their ship, El Morpheus closed the doors behind and gave the order for the ship to begin the launch sequence. The first Sith was approaching through the narrow passageway, the red glow standing out bright against the dark emptiness and occasional flicker of light.[/i] "But sir!" "Go! I'll ensure you're not followed." [i]El Morpheus turned back into the darkness and smiled, dropping the com behind him as he went. No need for unnecessary burdens. And as he walked, he picked up speed, until he was at a full run, the pitch black on either side of him almost welcoming, knowing why he was still there. A flash of red, a pinprick of blue, and the first Sith fell, his head cleaved from his neck in a bloody rain. Snatching up the Sith's abandoned lightsaber as he went, the next appeared further down the hall, and El Morpheus advanced to clear the previous corpse. It regarded him with eyes visible in the darkness, eerie and animal-like for all of their hectic orange glow. Eyeshine not withstanding, the Jedi kept his position relaxed, unwilling to feel the fear that would've only been counter productive. Besides that, things were going rather well. The hiss of steam and the klaxon to warn of a launching vessel was growing louder all the while. That or his hearing was simply sharpening. Feeling a tingle in his left arm, El Morpheus threw up one hand and deflected a lightsaber blow with the one he'd picked up, the other arcing down almost automatically to counter. Reaching out with his mind, the Force humming through his thoughts, he sent out a strand, a tendril of his emotions towards the Sith.[/i] "How many more of you?" [i]Resistance at first, an angry hiss that reverberated in his hearing, drowning out all other sounds, even the sounds of their lightsabers, clashing against one another as he advanced down the hall.[/i] "Three! No more than that!" [i]He smiled and jerked his right shoulder almost spasmodically, the unpredictable movement taking off the Sith's right arm at the elbow. A low voice echoed through the chamber they'd reached, sardonic and sarcastic in the empty space.[/i] "Really now, I thought more of you would've made it this far. After all, the Jedi loosing this planet is going to be quite a blow." "Save your words Gallen." "And I. You've forgotten me?" [i]The second voice, from a presence he'd felt earlier but not put a name to just yet. A cool chill spread across his spine that he immediately suppressed, and he went into the first defensive stance he'd been forced to adopt in all that long, bloody week.[/i] "Feyri. You too." [i]Mocking laughter was his reward for his own cleverness, and the glow of a blue lightsaber, a mirror of his own appeared by way of greeting. Fallen Jedi were always the worst of enemies to face. Arrogant, and with a certain measure of cruelty that was always disarming, El Morpheus could see across the time of the present into the future of the fighting. And he could see his own death, floating as if on wings just behind his eyes.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]4.09 for Regular in the Inland Empire of California. But I take it all with good grace because I know it isn't Big Oil's fault as much as it's the Government's fault. Remove the taxes on gas and suddenly it all just becomes so much less ponderous. But government likes taxing the American people so long as they suffer it in silence. And thus far we've been as meek as lambs to the slaughter. But before you start ranting about how we're 'addicted' to oil, remember that gasoline isn't the only thing you get from gas. Is your computer made with plastic parts? That's oil. Vinyl clothing or shoes? Oil. Do you own a car? It's comprised of oil based products. Sorry to break it to you. But since we haven't been allowed to drill for our own oil the way every other country on earth can, including China [World's Largest Polluters].... We bring it on ourselves. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[INDENT][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I love purple. And technically it's 'dark orchid' not purple. Indi posts in purple. She loves it too. Anyway I'm saying the number one issue facing the US is, in a nutshell, we might be completely WIPED OUT by a nation that hates us. And by wiped out I mean not a living creature left after the attack. Perhaps a cockroach...[/FONT][/COLOR][/INDENT]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Bears. .....actually number one issue today? Nuclear Threats Abroad. So. Iran. The policies of appeasement and diplomacy have failed to result in anything remotely akin to peace or treaty and instead have resulted in us giving more time to an Iranian madman/Holocaust denier sworn to wipe Israel and the U.S. off the face of the Earth. He'll use a nuke the second he gets it, and no he won't wait until the paint is dry. The threat of instant annihilation seems more important right now than any other issue at hand. There'll be time to address them all when we're not dead. Of course this is also a MASSIVELY subjective question. So nobody here will/could be technically wrong.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]Ship security won't be lax...but this isn't 1984 either. [/font][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Ah yes, Ve Vill Verk Mit You Until Your Mind is Right! ......just kidding. So there won't be some sweaty security guards watching Ilona shower? Oh darn. And yeah, so what if I like the attention? What'll you do? Sue me?[/FONT][/COLOR]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/avatar16_guest.gif[/IMG] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/von%20braun/arthurmostdefinitely.jpg[/img][IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/avatar7_guest.gif[/IMG][IMG]http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8279/jamiekingse9.jpg[/IMG][/center] [left][i]Arthur stared at her hand for a few moments longer than was expected, then he blushed a bright scarlet, visible when the lights flashed briefly over his face before swirling upwards back to the ceiling. Ilona smiled and gestured eloquently with one hand.[/i] "I take it you have two left feet?" "That's the least of my troubles. More my lack of rhythm. I'd end up looking like a beached whale." "You're far too hard on yourself. Most men figure it out after falling on their partner the first few times." [i]He opened his mouth, obviously flustered, when he caught the eyes of an older gentleman fixated in his direction. And the way he stared made him feel distinctly uncomfortable, because while there were at least a dozen people watching Ilona's every move, she wasn't the object of this man's attention. He picked up his drink and gave her a polite nod. [/i] "If you'll excuse me please?" "Certainly. But you'll owe me a dance some other time. Perhaps when there aren't so many people around." [i]A flirtatious wink, and she turned back to her martini, swirling a bit of it against the sugar. Several seconds later she turned away from her drink and the bartender's attempt to pour her another to find a tallish gentleman standing over her with an expectant expression on his face. He held out his right hand and spoke about as quickly as she'd expected from someone that looked as hyper as him.[/i] "Miss L'Marcelle? Hi hi, Alex, reporter for the Herald. Can I trouble you for an interview? And perhaps a photograph from one of my friend's?" "That's an odd way to put it. Most interviews aren't any trouble at all. Except for that one time "Gentleman's Weekly" wanted to interview me." "This won't be anything like that, unless you want it to be of course." [i]Ilona set down her drink in an instant with a coquettish giggle for Alex's roguish wink, turning to face him completely, leaning on her left elbow casually, as if she were completely at home in a $600 dress and expensive shoes. Alex raised his pen and looked about ready to ask her a question when someone who was most likely his photographer friend slunk up next to him, looking distinctly uncomfortable. [/i] "Oh Jamie, you decided to show up then. Well Miss Ilona L'Marcelle, may I introduce you to my partner, Jamie King. He's a little shy." "No reason to be shy at all. I won't bite. Until I know you better that is." [i]She held out her right hand and took Jamie's, shaking firmly, and then letting go, noticing a blush creeping across his face. Was this an epidemic or what? Raising her drink, she turned her attention back to Alex and pursed her lips, waiting for his next question.[/i][/left]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Okay, cue interview! Or have it interrupted by another rabid fan. Or...something. I'm flying by the seat of my pants here. ...well I would be if I were wearing pants.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Anomaly'][FONT="Garamond"]I like redbull, but only by association, because I adore JAGERBOMBS. It ain't cheap to get 'em though, either by making them yourself at parties, or at the bar. I got a jagerbomb at one place, which is less than half a can of redbull and a shot of jager for.. what, $8.95? [/FONT][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I'll confess, I have had these mystical and mythical Jaegerbombs before. And they are good. But unfortunately they give me the shakes, so I usually only down one per party per month. And since I haven't partied yet this month.... I think you're being massively overcharged. Cheaper to buy the Jaeger and Red Bull in a case. For the record, a Jaegerbomb is a can or a half of Red Bull with a shot of Jaeger licorice liquor dropped inside it. Very sweet, doesn't taste at all like alcohol and counteracts the downer of alcohol with the massive upper of energy. Not precisely healthy. At all. But I like Jaeger. Curses.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Kenso'][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]Devin can likely fit that bill if I drag his sorry behind into this, which I should likely get around to doing. I'm just having problems coming up with an opening post that doesn't sound almost exactly like everyone else's (especially reactions to the ship, as it'd be insanely impressive even to a professional explorer).[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Well just cough something up and I can rescue you from mindless boring repetitive dialogue/reactions. I'm such a savior.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Well, it might be a bit early to have someone drunk and swinging from the chandelier... Oh yes and I need someone I can include in my next post to dance with me. Since Shy's character will have performance anxiety. Har har *Raucous Laughter *[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]It's possible our descent into lunacy can only be hindered by the bedrock of ...uh....html.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/avatar16_guest.gif[/IMG] [img]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/malkav.jpg[/img] [left][i]Ilona stepped discreetly behind one of the several screens on the stage of the ridiculously swanky casino, noticing that the designers hadn't left a single thing to chance. Worked into exquisite faux diamond chandeliers, some clever engineer had added smart-lights, making sure that as soon as her number began, things would get very colorful. The stage manager gave her a friendly nod, grasping her hand firmly, gesturing behind him towards the M.C. for the evening.[/i] "Ms. L'Marcelle? I'm Timothy Masters, your outro for the night. You'll start the evening off as soon as the lights dim. No introductions." "Going for the pretty pretty light show instead?" "You betcha. That's a beautiful dress by the way." [i]Mr. Master's patted her bare shoulder as he walked past, and Ilona smiled as he went, peering into the mirror over a very uncluttered countertop. She turned slightly and adjusted the diamond clusters that formed the lattice pattern of the back of her dress and turned back again to check the front. Suitably dramatic, perhaps a little overdone, but a quick peek into the audience revealed a crowd of people clearly as obsessed with image as whoever had decorated. Tuxes, dresses by Dior, Versace, all the good designers. Ilona smiled and stood in the wings, the band fully rehearsed and mildly fibrillating with excitement. Everyone knew that this was more than just another gig and another night. Everyone could feel it. As those thoughts bounced merrily through her head, Ilona peeked across the stage and saw the officers that would be presented after her number. Lieutenants, petty officers, no Captain Sorokov that she could see, and the representative, Ms. Wells. The others were probably busy. Or shy. Or maybe they didn't finish pressing their suits. At that point the lights dimmed and Mr. Masters gave her the nod. Gliding as if on wings and not in four inch heels, Ilona L'Marcelle made her way to center stage, while diamond shaped strands of light glittered across the crowd and the stage. People turned, chatter died down, and Ilona took a deep breath to steel herself. The music leapt from her throat flawlessly, her voice deep and throaty, heavy, cutting across the sound of the live band just enough.[/i] "I don't need love, for what good will love do me?" [i]The crowd cheered, clapped, cat called, as Ilona took her bow, slightly breathless with excitement, and took the hand of Mr. Masters who led her across the stage as he took up the microphone.[/i] "One more time for Ms. Ilona L'Marcelle! She'll be performing tomorrow night at Club Kimera for anyone who can get in, but now, let's give a warm welcome to the officers that'll be making sure our flight's a smooth one!" [i]Carefully, she unclasped herself from Mr. Master's hand, getting the feeling that he was a little more nervous than he was letting on, as the officers trooped onto the stage, some wearing smiles rather fixed, with only Ms. Wells's standing out in a dazzling halo of genuine warmth. Ilona smiled and sat down, fanning herself with one hand. Once she'd recovered and the band struck up a moderately lively tune, she slipped out around the screens and made her way to the bar as quietly as she knew how, hoping nobody would get a very good look at her face. Martinis always helped calm her after a big number like that. The bartender turned and gave her a knowing smile, a look that said he knew what it was like being an employee, and reassured her that he wouldn't give her the same claptrap she was bound to get before the evening ended.[/i] "Lemon drop martini, dry." "That'll be on me." [i]Ilona turned and saw the Major, appearing out of nowhere in the crowd, to stand next to her, looking smart in her uniform and dress boots.[/i] "Thank you Major Sijan." "Oh please, call me Christina. No need for that tedious formality." [i]The entertainer kept her smile inward, and settled for a delicate arch of her eyebrows. Christina, showing interest in an employee from Von Braun, when there were plenty of people to eye besides just her. On the other hand, perhaps she was only being sized up. Best to play it casual then. She took a sip of her drink, savoring the bitter against the crushed sugar on the rim.[/i] "Christina then." "I liked your choice of song. Very nice." "Well I aim to please." "And please you did. I haven't heard that song in years. Nobody remembers those songs." "I try to perform songs worth remembering." [i]Christina leaned in a little closer and got a better look at Ilona's face, slightly blushed, and not from the vodka. Then she leaned back, satisfied and gave her a sharp smile. Ilona pursed her lips on the rim of her glass, then tossed her hair over one shoulder and gave her a coy smile in return.[/i] "Well, have a good evening. Ilona." [i]In her mouth, her name was a whisper, a caress, and it sent a slight chill down Ilona's left leg. She didn't outright clench her drink, but as Christina walked off, she set it down before she accidentally snapped the stem and sent glass shattering into her lap. It'd been awhile since someone had been so bold. Maybe too long. The bartender leaned over and dropped another slice of lemon into Ilona's drink and gave her a wink.[/i] "Cheer up girl. Everyone else is bound to be less freaky." "If only."[/left] [URL="http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZHG06wnos30"](Just for those who weren't sure what the song is like.)[/URL][/CENTER]