| Piloting and Posturing |
| Summary: | Still getting a feel for Lasher, Luck does some posturing while the two face off in the sims only to come to a mutual understanding at the conclusion. |
| Date: | 2/23/41 |
| Related Logs: | Raspberries |
| Players: |
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Flight Simulation
A training room specifically dedicated to honing aerial skills, this area is equipped with several flight simulator pods that allow the pilots to practice maneuvers and tactics without being in a real live plane. The Viper-pods are installed on one side of the room with a little space between them, an attempt to provide a realistic feel for close-range wing training, while a smaller number of Raptor sim-pods are installed on the opposite side of the room from the Vipers. A central computer terminal and overhead display screen sits at the head of the room, where one can input exercises and data to be run in the sims, scroll through score records, and control the training modules.
It hasn't even been twenty-four hours since Evan's games but Allie doesn't seem to mind, her brain being too firmly wrapped around getting even with Laskaris to worry about things like time in that manner. She has kept track of time to know it's been several hours since she left the note on Lasher's bunk asking him to join her, the span between now and then spent here, waiting.
And finally, here's Lasher. He enters the sim room, a wisp of cigarette smoke trailing behind him. As he notices Allie waiting for him impatiently, he gives a thin smile. "A little anxious, are we?" he remarks drolly as he regards the other pilot.
Having her back to the hatch as Anton arrives makes for a startled Allie who squeaks and wheels around in shock, her eyes wide. "Frak, Lasher. Don't do that." Her face goes flame-red once she realizes how easy she was snucked up upon, embarrassment sinking in as is disgruntlement. "You can say that," she hisses out between clenched teeth. "I wanted to get my hands on you before any of the others could."
Lasher blinks, though he seems slightly amused by Alessandra's reaction. He crosses the room, leaning against the mocked up cockpit closest to where the woman is standing. Exhaling a breath of smoke, he throws his arms out from his sides. "Well, I'm here now, unsullied and untouched." There's a narrow smirk. "Do with me what you will," he deadpans.
Lucky steps closer, not stopping until only several inches remain between them, her chin lifted slightly so she can look him in the eye. "That's a rather loaded statement. You probably should watch what you say otherwise you might find yourself in trouble." There is no hint of smile or humor, the warning totally deadpanned. "Get your ass in one of the simulators, Lasher." Pivoting, she steps to the side and goes to do that herself, picking the other simulator as hers, leaving Anton standing where he is.
[Sim-02-541: Alessandra] Alessandra slips into the cockpit of the sim and makes sure everything's set properly, each read-out looked over twice to make sure it's all good. "By the way, you'll have your laundry tomorrow, Lasher."
[Sim-01-540: Laskaris] Lasher pulls the mock-canopy closed behind him as he brings the simulator on line. Displays light up as the image of a starfield suddenly appears outside the "glass". "Delightful," he replies dryly. He makes a quick assessment of his instruments before looking down at the DRADIS display and finding the angry red icon of Allie's Viper. "Shall we?"
[Sim-02-541: Alessandra] "Ready, Freddy," Allie quips with a bit too much enthusiasm in her words, finally moved into some show of emotion that doesn't add to the chill she tries to keep about herself. "Want to sweeten the bet?" Her hands find stick and throttle control, her fingers curled lightly about them, preparing to gun her Viper forward towards the 'enemy'.
<Air-Wing> Juno has connected.
[Sim-01-540: Laskaris] Laskaris' virtual Viper arcs around in a sharp turn, but he doesn't move to engage the other pilot just yet. "What did you have in mind?" he asks over the com. He's already settling into that marked detachment that's his usual wont in the cockpit. Displays of emotion can wait until after it's said and done, in his case.
<Air-Wing> Raedawn has disconnected.
[Sim-02-541: Alessandra] Allie watches the blip on the DRADIS as it moves, every position changed made by Las noted. "How about we go for something humiliating. The loser has to parade their self around, proclaiming the winner's ownership on them." She pauses, hesitates before adding, "Winner's choice," the same words that sealed her fate and is making her have to do his laundry. "What do you say, huh? Could be fun, no?"
[Sim-01-540: Laskaris] Allie can't see it, but Laskaris is shaking his head in his cockpit, sighing. However, there is the barest hint of a smirk on his lips to go along with it. "What is this, flight school, Allie? Cleaning my skivvies wasn't humiliating enough for ya?" There's mirth in his voice, though. "Fine. Far be it from me to interfere with your fun." Although, of course, he intends to do just that.
[Sim-02-541: Alessandra] "I think someone's scared," is grumbled just as the Viper lurches forward, the throttle gunned just shy of full which has Allie shooting forward. "Come and get me, Lasher," she sing-songs while making with a banking turn, choosing to fire once she's facing in the opposite way. Whether Laskaris can keep up or not remains to be seen.
[Sim-01-540: Laskaris] "Whatever you say," comes the droll, accented reply, Lasher rolling his eyes as he opens his own throttle as he moves to intercept the other simulated Viper. He arcs his fighter around to match her maneuver, though he rolls in at a tighter angle as he goes for the target lock.
<COMBAT> Laskaris attacks Alessandra with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Alessandra attacks Laskaris with KEW - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
[Sim-02-541: Alessandra] The first volley has Allie's ship hit some, it showing up as red on the damage readout, the armor being the only reason it isn't as bad as it could have been. Of course she is aiming to give as good as she takes, something she seems to do as Las registers as being hit as well. "Awww. Lookie. Someone's got a booboo. Should I kiss it better?" Banter aside, Lucky's all business and it shows in the aggressive manner she flies in, her weapons firing upon Lasher even before she fully gets him in her sights.
[Sim-01-540: Laskaris] At first, Lasher was flying with a modicum of composure, but as Allie scores that first hit, the Killer Instinct(tm) kicks in and Lasher leans on the thruster controls as his ship twists wildly around. Laskaris is normally an aggressive type on the stick, and now is no exception as he bores in for another strike. His only response to Allie's taunt is a snort.
<COMBAT> Alessandra attacks Laskaris with KEW - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Laskaris attacks Alessandra with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Viper-3649r has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Alessandra has been KO'd!
[Sim-02-541: Alessandra] The second hit seals Lucky's fate just like it did last night, the programming shutting down her simulator to indicate a kill. "Frakkers!" Gritting her teeth, Allie shakes her head and sighs, closing her eyes. "Godsdamnit. That's not fair!" The sound of the cockpit opening sounds over the comms just before they too are shut off, Allie exiting her 'fighter' in a hurry.
[Sim-01-540: Laskaris] Lasher grins as the KEW rounds 'destroy' Allie's fighter; a moment later, he toggles the computer control of his own simulator, shutting the thing down. "Hate t' drag out a tired old cliche, Allie, but life is rarely fair." With that, he opens his own cockpit and exits.
"You only bring that up because you won," Allie murmurs while looking away, the woman displeased. Yes, Lucky's competitive nature is getting the better of her now. It takes a minute but she eventually calms down, her annoyance replaced by something more good-sportsman like in quality. "Guess you are the better pilot and gunner," she concedes semi-begrudgingly. "Looks like I'll be forever working for you at this rate."
"Maybe so," Lasher responds with a thin smile. "Though it was hardly a foregone conclusion. You had me worried at the initial exchange of fire, I'll admit." He pauses long enough to pull out a fresh cigarette and light it as he leans against his mock-pit. "Didn't expect that second shot would do the trick." His eyes stay on the woman even as she looks away. Her praise gets a matter-of-fact shrug. Not modest, but then he's not going to any pains to gloat, either.
There is a laugh from across the room and then Alessandra moves, coming to take up some leaning space next to Anton, choosing to do so on his off-side so he can smoke without her getting in the way. "Keep up with the run of luck and I may have to give you my callsign and go with something more proper. Maybe 'Target' or "Bullseye'." The fact that he isn't boasting is a good thing as if he were to do so it'd most likely cause things to blow up, her pride injured enough to make her very short-fused and a bit irrational. "So what do I have to do for you besides laundry?"
"No luck involved. I'm just a bloody good shot." And that's as close to bragging as Laskaris gets. The blond pilot smirks slyly. "Well, if you want t' walk the ship proclaiming to everyone everywhere that I own you…" He lets that hang in the air for a moment as he takes a pull off his cigarette, but then shakes his head a moment later. "Nothing." Surprised? "Like I said, this isn't frakkin' flight school anymore. You're not some green-around-the-gills ensign who needs t' be put in her place. Believe it or not, I don't really buy into all that schoolyard posturing bullshit. You asked for a rematch, you lost. I'm sure losing t' the likes of me twice in a row is as humiliating as anything I can think of offhand."
Alessandra sighs and shakes her head. "It's not posturing, frakit. Just thought it'd be something fun to do. Sweeten things up." Her arms hang loosely at either side of her body only to then lift, coming to cross just under her chest as she thinks. "Fine. I lost twice. We're good. I will still do your frakking laundry." Her smile returns and she looks at him, a bit of hair slipping from her braid to rest against the side of her neck. "Thanks for putting up with me, Lasher."
Lasher shakes his own head in reply, a slightly bemused expression on his face. "And if you'd won, I'd have done whatever you'd demanded of me without complaint. A bet is a bet. I'm not judging you, Allie, for frak's sake." He folds his arms over his chest, his cigarette still held in one hand as he turns his head to regard the woman at his side. "Soon, if you will. It's starting to pile up, and my locker's beginning t' smell." Lasher's laundry habits — or rather, his predilection for not doing it — is notorious. He smirks. "You had t' put up with me for just as long. Don't thank me."
"Yeah, I know. The smell woke me up twice last night," Allie teases before leaning over, just barely bumping her shoulder against Anton's. "I'll do it tonight so that way you can have clean uniforms and stuff to wear." With the annoyance at losing finally quelled Alessandra's able to take it all in stride, her good humor back at full force. "Maybe you'll be as so kind as to give me some pointers, huh?" The defensive posture is released and her arms slide down a bit, now resting just at her stomach in a manner that is much more relaxed.
Laskaris laughs; it's a biting, gravelly sound, which perfectly matches his normal speaking voice. His arms unfold, the cigarette going back to his lips. "You're too kind." It's spoken in that trademark accented deadpan of his. There's a shrug a moment later as twin columns of smoke rush from his nostrils; he meets her eyes once again as she asks the question. "I don't know if I'd make much of an instructor," comes the reply a moment later. "But… sure, sometime I can show you a couple things that've helped me."
Alessandra purses her lips and then makes an offer, her voice held at a fairly low volume. "I'll trade you if you do. Pointers in pyramid for pointers in being a good pilot." The offer is made with no sign of bravado or ego, it simply something she does for a friend. "Besides, you owe me a game. We can kill two birds with one stone."
There's another one of those barking chuckles, and Lasher acquiesces with a slow nod. "I do at that, don't I? You've got a deal." He eyes the woman a moment longer, the silence suddenly heavy in the air. Then, abruptly, he clears his throat, pushing himself off the side of the sim cockpit. "Well. I should be going. Paperwork." There's an indolent shrug as he moves away, walking slowly backwards so he can still face her. "See you later?"
Nodding slowly, Lucky watches Anton intently, her eyes holding to his while he speaks. "Sure, you know where to find me." Blushing, she looks down and to the side, something having made her bashful. "Have fun. With the paperwork, that is." Not the smoothest of lines but she just leaves it at that, Lasher allowed to depart with no kind of hindrance from her.