inquiries & a challenge

[poetontheinside]

Who: Ray Kowalski
Broadcast: Video
Action: Windrose, and space!
When: today and also whenever the races are happening

[Ray is looking bored bored bored. He has a toothpick stuck in the corner of his mouth, and he's throwing a ball from one hand to the other, sometimes scrambling after it when he misses- it's astigmatism, okay, he just doesn't see all that good.]

Alright, so I got a question. Not everyone here's from Earth, whatever, but most of you are from some kinda place with some kinda rules and laws. And I figure a bunch of you have gotta be law enforcement yourselves, y'know, statically. [sic]

Now me? I'm just a regular schmo, city cop worked his way up to Detective. I didn't always wanna be a cop, but I tried it out and it stuck. Chasin' bad guys, putting on the heat, lock 'em up. Bam-bam-bam. [He slams the ball into his hand three times, then sits forward and grins.] It's a job, right? Just like bein' an engineer in here.

[He misses it. He misses it a lot, actually; misses his partner and the job, the satisfaction of a puzzle and a chase and locking up someone who made the world a little more dangerous.] So the rest of you: what do you do? How's it work in your world?

[Added, a few minutes later:]

By the way: I don't have my ar here to race you in, but back home I'm the last guy you wanna get into a car chase with. [He may be exaggerating slightly, but who could contradict him?] Figure I gotta keep those instinct working. I'll be there in two hours, ready to go.

Comments

[peacockherald]

I believe I am up to the task. Let us hope you are up the task of winning the race.

_{[ His mouth took on a slyness as well, though it was hidden well in the corners and far outweighed by warmth. ]}

[poetontheinside]

And if I lose?

[peacockherald]

A few less kisses as your consolation prize.

[poetontheinside]

I'll take it. Alright, wish me luck.

[He signs off, then, a couple hours later, comes back on.]

...I lost.

[peacockherald]

_{[ He had watched, though it had been a bit hard to follow - the ships so quickly went out of sight. ]}

But you did very well from the parts I saw. I am most impressed.

Where shall I meet you?

[poetontheinside]

Never been to your ship before, I think. Not your part of it. Gimme a chance to redeem myself, fly my ass over there pronto?

[peacockherald]

That would be nice. I'll brew us some coffee while you come over - or do you prefer tea?

[poetontheinside]

Coffee'd be great, Van. Thanks.

[He's there in short order, landing more gracefully than he had after the race.]

[peacockherald]

_{[ Van is waiting, coffee in hand, dressed down in trousers and a tunic, easy to move around in. He smiled when he saw Ray, stepping up to kiss the corner of his mouth and press a cup into his hand. ]}

So, think you'll take up a career in space racing?

[poetontheinside]

[The kiss makes him grin, makes him duck his head a little as he takes the cup. He doesn't reply immediately, leans in for another kiss- a little deeper, now. He's flushed when he breaks away.]

You think I'd make any money, based on what you just saw?

[peacockherald]

_{[ Vanyel makes no complaints at the second kiss, even smiling against his mouth as he leaned into it, cupping the back of Ray's neck and giving a warm squeeze. ]}

I cannot say. That is the first such race I have ever seen. But where there is room for improvement, there is hope of such a thing being possible.

_{[ He smiled at him, eyes glittering at his teasing, feeling brave enough to steal another kiss. ]}

[poetontheinside]

[He grins, and briefly pulls Vanyel's lower lip into his mouth, sucks on it a little before pulling away teasingly.]

You make it sound all positive-- it's alright to just say I sucked balls, Van.

[peacockherald]

_{[ He shivered, a flush rising to his cheeks and his hand settling on Ray's chest - to steady himself rather than push away. ]}

Court niceties are not so easy to get rid of. But it's true what I said. I think you only need practice. And then you shall gather glories to you.

_{[ He smiled, leaning in to kiss him more fully, feeling bold. ]}

Come, you can rest in my rooms.

[poetontheinside]

Bet that's what you say to all the girls. [he's grinning, flushed, then nods.]

Sure. Show me your quarters.

[peacockherald]

Only the loveliest ones.

_{[ He reached down, taking the other's hand with more confidence than he had at the beach, leading him through the ship's halls. His room was small, but then so were all the others. He had managed to decorate it some, favoring white and deep, deep blue. ]}

Make yourself at home.

[poetontheinside]

[The hand-holding is a little new, but he doesn't drop him. It's just- something to get used to. Van's a little weird like that, and Ray can deal with it.]

Hey, this is pretty nice. You guys been upgrading pretty good, huh?