"It doesn't quite sound like he was trying to do anything but help." Nathan says, looking at her thoughtfully. "You decided to steal cause it felt like the only way to get back at him, right?" He seems to have forgotten the groceries now, "He's a bounty hunter, Ani. Remember what we said about giving people a reason to remember? Did you not know that was his profession?" He raises a brow again.

"At the time, no I didn't... mainly cause people seem to appear on this ship overnight while I'm sleeping..." Ani's not too bitter over that although she's lifting an eyebrow at Nathan. "I can appreciate keeping myself hidden Nathan... better than you can imagine. But it'd be nice if I could you know, not have to wear sunglasses in my home without fear of being gawked at by people who I have no idea are on board."

Cole chooses that moment to come crawling out of his wall panel, unwittingly emphasizing Ani's statement. Dropping his knapsack, he replaces the panel behind him and heads over to the cooling unit, giving nary more than a nod to those present so as not to interrupt them.

"Its a ship, Ani. One that transports people. If you are asleep, and don't bother to find someone who has been awake while you've been out to ask what is going on, don't be surprised if you are blind sided by things. We all are from time to time. You may also try listening. There are few closed doors in the public areas. If you hear a voice you don't recognize, then think about taking steps." It would appear that the Captain does have a limit in patience. "But you knew he was a passenger. And again, you decided to do something to someone while they were /here/." He looks at her, gaze hard for a moment longer. Cole's arrival, for good or ill, does break the flow of things. Nathan returns to setting out the rest of the groceries.

Ani grabs her crutches and slips them under her arms as she starts towards the Cargo Hold, but stops to speak to Nathan momentarily voice oddly quiet. "You know... maybe... you could try caring about the fact that I was right. I was right that Cole was in trouble and that woman was up to no good. But you never say thank you. You never even notice what I try to do around here. And then you jump down my throat over something. You have a ship to run Cap'n though... to 'ell with the crew of it." And then she just crutches herself right out the door.

Cole's trail stops when he hears Ani mention his name, particularly when he hears enough to realize it's being used in some sort of heated debate or argument. Since Ani's on her way out, he's left to look at Nathan, his expression being an easily readable 'I hope whatever just happened doesn't mean I'm in trouble' sort of thing.

"You have a short memory, Ani." Nathan says calmly. "But if you only want to remember these discussions, that's your choice." He looks to Cole and shakes his head slightly in the negative.

Anastasia heads through Aft Passageway (AP) into Aft Passageway - Firefly Class Transport.
Anastasia has left.

Cole slumps his shoulders in relief, and then completely ignores the whole issue, instead gesturing to the groceries. "Oooh, need help? What'd we get?"

Nathan Roman reaches into one of the few remaining bags and pulls out a tin of powdered chocolate. He sets it down with a thunk. "This for one." He turns and starts putting things in the cabinets. It seems like Ani may have had a system. The Captain just shoves.

Mei Li arrives from Aft Passageway - Firefly Class Transport.
Mei Li has arrived.

Cole reaches out slowly to touch the chocolate powder, lips trembling as he picks it up and stares at it.

Nathan Roman is shoving groceries away with little art or arranging. The box that holds Mei's dress is near the doorway.

Mei Li makes her way into the room, a little brown bag held in her hand. She smiles as she sees Cole and arches a brow at what he is staring at. "Nathan!" Grinning widely, she moves over to where he is shoving things. "Let me do it." Her expression is wry as she looks up at him. "Thank you," she mouths, inclining her head to the boy and his treasure. What she has in her own hand gets placed carefully in the very back of the cupboard though she does open it to reach in and pull something out. She hands the slim package over to Nathan. Cigarettes. The good kind as she so often teases him that he needs. "You're making a mess," she tells him fondly.

Cole shakes his head slightly and runs his sleeve across his nose, letting out a single sniffle. "Uhh, thanks," he says as nonchalantly as possible, handing the powder back over to Nathan. "That'll be good." He grins over at Mei Li. "Hey, Doc."

"Just consider it a clever manipulation to get you to drink that irradiated crap they call milk." Nathan says to Cole gravely. "God knows it needs something in it." He turns to set the chocolate in the cupboard, lowest shelf. He looks to Mei Li, "Its just boxes and cans." He blinks at the cigarettes and takes them, eyes lingering on the label. Then back to her face, "Thank you," he says quietly.

Mei Li gives the boy a wave and a wink. "Hello, Mister Cole. You missed the shopping trip. Though I'd wager if you asked Nathan, Mister Rush and Mister Dravis they'd tell you that you didn't miss a thing." Turning to the cupboard, she begins arranging the boxes and cans into something a bit more organized and easily findable. "Well.. if you're going to kill yourself with those things, you might as well go out in style," she tells Nathan playfully. "Besides.. You think I won't be stealing one from you?"

Cole shrugs at Mei Li. "I wouldn't want to go out there anyway. Wouldn't want to risk getting you guys in trouble." He gestures towards the cigarettes as they're taken. "Can I have one?" he asks as casually as possible.

"You smoking them or saving them to resell?" Nathan asks of Cole, tucking the package away into his vest. He glances to Mei Li, "You look ...happy. I take it that your conversation with Alekson was good?"

Mei Li arches a brow at the child's question. It only climbs higher as Nathan returns with one of his own. She lets him handle it though, keeping out of it, trusting him to DO THE RIGHT THING. Continuing to arrange the cans in the cabinet, she wrinkles her nose a little. "That depends on what you would consider good," she murmurs. "I'm happy because.. Well.. because I'm home, I guess."

Cole takes a moment, apparently trying to decide which answer is better. "Ummm, smoking it. Used to keep me warm on the cold nights out there, and I've been starting to feel some withdrawal symptoms." He combines this information with the dreaded Cute Pout, and would undoubtedly add a violin soundtrack if it were possible.

"Not exactly healthy for you, kid." Nathan points out after a moment, "But I can't imagine that cutting 'em completely with other smokers aboard is serving your nerves any." He pauses, "Bumming and stealing them... how many were you up to a day?"

Mei Li remains quiet, just busying herself with organizing the cupboard. Yup. All busy and not hearing any of this in her little cupboard world.

- Cole rolls Bluff with a modifier of 0. Result: 16
- Rolled Bluff with modifier of 0. Result: 3+2+0+11=16

"Seven," Cole lies, upping the estimate by a couple in anticipation of an attempt to ration his supply and wean him off over time - amazing what some addicts'll do, ain't it? "I can maybe do something extra to make up for the cost...?"

Nathan Roman rolls Perception with a 0 modifier. Result: 9
Mei Li rolls Perception with a 0 modifier. Result: 21

Nathan Roman nods. He looks at Cole and then looks to the electical passageway. "No. None for right now. We'll talk about who needs to quit what in the morning," he says finally. The 'not now' and the 'look' were meant for Cole to catch. But the Captain must be slipping.

Mei Li was glancing out of the cabinet to reach for more cans when that look was cut. A brow arches as she looks up at the Captain, faintly amused but mostly disbelieving. "You will permit him to have two a day and he will see me for jitters," she tells the Captain, chuckling as she shakes her head. "You are so lucky I am in a good mood. Both of you," she tells them as she sorts the last of the cans.

Cole shrugs at the Captain and offers him an appreciative smile, before focusing on Mei Li. "It's not like I'm really a kid, you know. Not really. It's been a long time since I had a bedtime."

"Damn." Nathan says, tone something between annoyed and admiring. He smiles faintly and then shrugs to Cole, "She's got you." He backs away from the table, "And I believe I should find my bed before it gets any worse."

Rush arrives from Aft Passageway - Firefly Class Transport.
Rush has arrived.

[Scene Set] Like the poster for the old nuclear family, Papa Nathan and Mama Mei Li are gathered around the cabinets, putting away the groceries, while little Cole whines for the proverbial sugar cookie. The whole thing would look like a 20th century kitchen scene, were it not for the cramped dining tables and the shipboard lighting.

And breaking that wholesome image is the local death-bringer. In from the hold comes Rush, and he looks more grim than usual. "Cap'n. We need to talk about Ani."

Mei Li smirks at Nathan, shaking her head still. "You're slipping, Captain," she teases. "Pleasant dreams." Her gaze then turns to Cole and she sighs softly, nodding. "I know. It's not you, bao bei. It's me. Doctor's are funny. We don't like seeing people throwing their lives away til they've lived a bit more of it." She offers a small smile. "Nathan's right though. You are a bit young to be smoking. Do you know what it's doing to your lungs? Out of breath when you find yourself running? Getting winded a bit before other children your age? We have a rule on the ship, Mister Cole. No ruining your life until you are sixteen." She tries to keep her voice low and gentle, not reprimanding or trying to preach. "I can help you with those withdrawal symptons. But two a day is not that bad. And you have no idea how it's killing me to offer you even that."

Mei Li glances towards the door as Rush comes in with a new problem and just groans. Her eyes flicker to Nathan, silent inquiry in their hazel depths.

[Rush]
-----
Rush is a tall, lean man, almost gaunt. While his body appears lithe enough, strength and bulk are not his areas of mastery. His face is sharp, and his features are well-proportioned enough. But hidden under an almost permanent five o'clock shadow are many small nicks and scars. With wild black hair that falls to his shoulders and facial hair almost as dark, his face would appear swarthy. If it weren't for his eyes, a bright green in color, eyes that contrast the darkenss of his hair and skin.
His clothes are simple enough. A rumpled black undershirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, open at the throat. Jeans, beaten and warn. Drover's boots, also worn. A drover's hat, and an old oilskin duster, cut off at the shoulders, frayed.
Oh, and slung across his back is one durable guitar.
-----

The stranger's guitar and his drover's hat are both points of interest sufficient to make Cole's head turn to regard him momentarily. Since his remarks seem directed specifically to Nathan, however, he dismisses the man's presence for the moment and focuses on retorting Mei Li. "He didn't say I was young, he just said I was ruining my lungs. And you didn't /have/ anyone under sixteen on your ship until last week."

"Apparently." Nathan says in response to Mei. His steps to the fore are quick enough so that he is enveloped in the new section, with its hum of electronics and bridge equipment as Rush enters. It is doubtful he heard himself being spoken to.

Nathan Roman heads through Forward Passageway (FP) into Forward Passageway - Firefly Class Transport.
Nathan Roman has left.

Unfortunately for Rush, he misses the Captain by a good two seconds. "Gorram it," he mutters. The 'slinger looks at the kid, nods, and looks to Mei. "Just so you know, ma'am, I used some of the sleeping pills we have on Ani. She needed 'em."

Mei Li chuckles softly at Cole's reply, giving the boy a fond smile. "Well it's convenient that we've had this rule, hmm?" she asks. Rush speaks to her and she lifts her gaze, her expression changing into one of shock. "What happened? Is she alright? Did she hurt herself?" Reaching behind her, she closes the cabinet as she heads towards Rush.

Cole stays quiet now that the focus is on more important matters, looking interestedly between Rush and Mei.

Rush shakes his head. "Any tea left, Ma'am?" He takes a seat at the table and removes his hat, swinging the guitar to the floor. "She was going to leave. Seems Dravis made some...unsavory comments, and she got all worked up about that. An' the fact that she thinks no one on board appreciates her. Almost got past the landing pad, but I talked her out of it, carried her back, put her to sleep."

Mei Li just stands there and blinks at Rush, lips pursing as various emotions float over her face. The strongest being anger. Evidently it isn't for Rush as she does turn around and begin getting him the requested tea. "I don't.. I don't understand her sometimes," she murmurs sadly. "I'll have a talk with her when she wakes," she assures, sighing softly. So much for her own shot at sleep for the night.

Rush shakes his head. "No, ma'am. I'm not thick in the head, and I know you two don't like each other much. I promised her a talk, just her, me, an' the Cap'n. That's what I'll give her. If you drive her off, no matter how well you may mean, all my runnin' tonight was for nothin'." The 'slinger then leans back, covers his eyes, and rubs at his forehead. "It really isn't my problem," he mutters.

Mei Li whirls around at that. "Don't like her! She said that?" she demands. "Since when do I not like Ani? We had a long talk just the other day and we got things squared between us. She knows it's..." Her lips press closed and she brings the tea over to the table, setting it down before him. "Just.. Nathan needs this like he needs a hole in the head, Mister Rush. He's had nothing but worries since Shadow. I have no intention of driving her off. I want Ani to stay. She *needs* to stay."