Shadows of Bankor

Astin walked into The Coyote with his mornings catch in hand. Though honestly he didn't expect to see much of anyone here, their little crew had fallen apart a bit lately. Going from five to basically three now that he hadn't seen Ru'ni in weeks.

Mia had left for reasons he could understand, wanting to help other places in what ways she could. Ru'ni though had disappeared for reasons Astin wasn't sure of. Placing a large plastic board on the kitchen table he plopped the fish he carried on top of it, and started cleaning them. Idle hands helped a man think after all.

Returning from the morning's meeting, Dove took the scenic route of the ship as she came aboard to see who was here... and who was still missing. Mia leaving had been hard for her at first, as she was struggling enough with things at the time and she lost one of her rocks... but after a few days Dove had managed to get through it and emerge as herself again. Though now with a stronger purpose, will, and feeling of responsibility.

"... Ru'ni isn't back yet, huh?" she commented as she saw Astin in the kitchen area.

"Nah, haven't seen him since the day we came here really." Even then it had only been for a few moments. "Beginning to wonder if he has been captured or something."

Ru'ni hadn't seemed the type to just disappear after all.

"Hmm..." she frowned slightly in thought. "We're gonna have to look into it. I knew he was part of the second strike force to rescue the prisoners at the Foundry, but as far as I know he wasn't struck down or captured then."

Dove moved over to the kaff-machine, which was probably the most important function in the kitchen in her opinion. "If something's going on, I want to know what. And I don't want it said that we don't look after our crew."

"Never heard much about what happened on that secondary mission." Astin mused thoughtfully. "Course I didn't go around asking either."

Done removing the entrails on the first fish, he went through the process of removing the skin and starting on the filets. "I figured I'd look into it later today, not really sure where he might be, but feat on the ground is the best place to start. Think I'll start in Rygor, though I'll try and keep to the slums."

The smell of kaff was at least overpowering the smell of fish-guts, for Dove that is.

"Mm, good idea. If you start there, I'll start hearing with those who are a bit more in touch with the Aznuri. Hear if they've heard anything about where he might be."

"Sounds like a solid plan to me." Astin said with a nod. "Between the two of us we should be able to figure out something."

Moving away from the table he went to wash his hand before going to fetch a beer from fridge. Popping the top he took a sip. "Hows that spy stuff going by the way?"

Dove raised her eyebrow over the rim of her mug when she saw Astin's choice of drink this early in the day.

"It's... well, it's in its infancy. The Resistance's intel ops, that is. But it gotta start somewhere, and can't let those bucketheads and flyboys make all the calls. That's how bad decisions are made."

Intel was an important part of warfare. Even more so when you had to resort to guerilla-tactics against a much much much bigger opponent.

"Why you ask? Interested in signing up?"

"It's almost noon." Astin replied, having seen the look Dove gave him.

Moving back to the table he returned to his work as he listened to Dove talk. "Maybe, bit too sure honestly. It's either working with you or the fly boys. I ain't much of a solider though or fighter pilot." He paused a moment. "Probably not much of a spy either now that I think about it."

"Though I suppose I could tell you a bit of s secret?"

"There's a lot of spy-work that isn't what I do a lot. Just being good at picking up information goes a long way," she said before taking another deep drink of kaff.

The word secret had her attention though and she looked up again. "Sure? I can promise to keep it a secret too." Pulling up a chair, Dove sat down to listen to what Astin had to say.

He chuckled at that. "It's not really much of a secret, honest. But I won't mind a bit if ya keep it."

Clearing his throat he spoke, all the normal country in his voice falling away to be replaced by a slight core worlds accent reminiscent of Coruscant. "Well, when I was a young man, and truly beginning to consider exploring the galaxy at large. I was quite embarrassed at how I spoke, quite certain that I would be looked down of because of it."

"So I practiced quite a bit to be able to speak without it, and I can with ease. Though typically I don't anymore. I've learned over the years that my natural accent and farm boy mannerisms lead most to see me in a certain kind of light."

"One that I sometimes find to be as advantageous as always pretending to be sleeping." Astin finished with a playful wink.

"Ahh..." she chuckled, understanding what he was saying.

"It's a good skill to have. Honestly, Astin, you got the good starting grounds for a spy already with those kind of talents." Dove smirked confidently. "Trust me when I say not all those in that biz have learned those particular things. Even those who have been in it for years."

Astin shrugged, his accent falling back into place. "Its a pretty rough galaxy out there, a fella has to try and use what he can to his advantage." He had been traveling enough to know that.

"Probably helps to stay together if most of us have similar occupations too."

That made her snicker. "Except for Floats, I trust? I mean... she's not exactly subtle, or... spy-material."

"That's where the most came in." He offered with a soft chuckle, he was still expecting a dressing down about those educational videos he sent her.

"But it's still wise if she keeps a low profile, and if she is with a few folks that know how to do that. Well, it makes things easier."

"True that," she nodded.

As for the educational videos, Astin probably did deserve a dressing down for them, but it had made her laugh too much to actually do anything about it. One of her first real good laughs after she had pulled herself out of her slump.

"So you're looking at this ship becoming some home to a crew of sneaky gits? I can live with that. Ru'ni seems smart enough to learn the ropes too..." if he comes back.

"Makes the most sense to me." Astin replied taking a sip of his beer. "While you might be able to pull off being an ace fighter pilot looking all hot in one of those skin tight flight suits. I think it would a bit of a stretch for Ru'ni and Floats." Especially the later with no boats involved.

"Could make a bit of cover for ourselves as a band or something. Figure if we taught her Floats would be pretty good on the drums."

He glanced from his work to Dove. "If you are alright with that."

"Hey, I like the sound of that. Good thinking," she nodded, giving him a confident smile. "And the Wiley Coyote is a cheesy enough name that people will believe it too."

A brief snicker. "But I'll probably need to ask for some brushing up on my piloting skills anyway. Last bird I flew had a rather rough landing. Something I'd rather not repeat."

"Right you are." He offered tipping the beer in her direction, it was the type of name most folk wouldn't take serious.

"Piloting lessons too then? I've been brushing up on my skills in space, suppose I could run you through a couple rounds." Astin glanced at the fish he was cleaning and raised an eyebrow. "Unless you wanted to practice the dreaded cooking."

Dove looked at the kitchen counter, with the fish. She groaned like a kid told to clean her room. "Ugh... I'll have to change later as I'll probably stink of fish from that."

"What you planning on doing with it anyway? Raw? Grilled? Or something else?"

That brought on a laugh. "I would say you could always cook naked, but since I plan to do a bit of pan frying, that would likely get burns in delicate places."

"Ain't really too hard though. You should be able to pick it up pretty easy." He took a sip of his beer. "You might want a beer too by the time we're done though."

With that, Dove downed the remains of her kaff and figured she might as well get it over with. She had said she'd be willing to learn more of this cooking thing, after all. "All right. Let me get the lubricant then." And with that, she headed over to the fridge to grab a beer for herself.

At least she had the sense to take off her jacket and gloves, as well as wash her hands, before joining up with the master chef. "So... it's already dead, so you don't need me to stab it."

"If you're getting all lubes up, you might make me think fish isnt the only thing on the menu." He replied as stopped the rest of the remains into the trash.

Pointing out the filets he'd cut from the fish. "If this was poultry I'd say 'And we exposed her breasts for all the world to see' being as its fish though they're called filets, still no stabbing is nessacary."

"We'll need so oil though, and flour as well as a bit of seasoning. You want it pretty standard or prefer a spicy kick?"

Dove wiggled her eyebrows. "I always thought cooking was a very intimate process... touching all that bare flesh, breasts, and thighs," it was all very suggestive really.

"Spicy kick for me, chef."

That earned Dove a playful nudge in the side as he walked by her. "See cooking is already a bit funner then you thought it would be. Plus it can always shift a lady that's a bit on the fence off of it and onto other things." He finished with a playful wink.

Placing a heavy bottomed pan on the burner he turned on the heat. "First off we start by heating the pan, while tha5s happening though we make our preparations." He explained as he set out a wide bowl and added flour, salt, pepper, and a some chili powder. "Thars the best time to prep the batter we coat the fish in."