Mixing Oil and Water
WHO: Haman Karn, Roy Fokker, Vincent Thompson
WHERE: The Hub - Terminus
WHEN: Saturday, Dec 30
WHAT: While getting a bite to eat in the neutral zone, Roy hits on the wrong lady - talks follow.
The Hub - Terminus
The Terminus is a great, immense facility that is at once a mixture of an alien ruin and a supermodern airport. The superstructure consists of towering blue vines, sometimes as thick as tree trunks, that wind and stretch about, forming great pillars and archways as they curl together. The same material forms the floor, instead of steel or stone. Ramps lead to stacked concentric circles, where the cables form archways leading into the numerous Gates taking people to the rest of the cosmos - and then some.
However, mixed in with this is a variety of architecture - both modern, sleek units and alien technology ranging from organic to stone monoliths - that houses a series of overpriced shops and restaurants. Hotels and the like can even be found mixed in, allowing every amenity one might imagine.
On the southern end of this immense room is a great archway, which leads into the Hub itself. It is large enough for small spaceships, while containing ramps and catwalks for vehicles and men on foot alike to cross at their own pace.
Fine, since you two are cowards~ Not really. In one of the restaurants that dot the Terminus, a lone, very tall figure sits at a table, a half-eaten double bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and half a mug of beer on the table itself, as Roy Fokker handles a double duty.
On one hand - there's reports. On the other? This is a target-rich environment, as they say - the Veritech pilot can't help but to track the occassional aft that crosses by his position.
Haruhi Suzumiya has connected.
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "OH SHI."
[OOC] Vincent Thompson says, "Oh God No."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "HI GUYS WHAS HAPP'NIN"
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "I DID NOT MEAN THAT POSE TO SUMMON YOU."
[OOC] Mai Tokiha says, "Haruhi!"
[OOC] Vincent Thompson says, "ROY, YOU BASTARD"
[OOC] Vincent Thompson says, "YOU'LL KILL US ALL!"
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "
Fine, since you two are cowards~ Not really. In one of the restaurants that dot the Terminus, a lone, very tall figure sits at a table, a half-eaten double bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and half a mug of beer on the table itself, as Roy Fokker handles a double duty.
On one hand - there's reports. On the other? This is a target-rich environment, as they say - the Veritech pilot can't help but to track the occassional aft that crosses by his position.
"
[OOC] Mai Tokiha also tol'y comes back from cleaning up outside.
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "Show me this...pose. ~_~"
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya :|
[OOC] Mai Tokiha says, "GAH."
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "DO NOT WANT."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "Fortunately for all of you, I have business to attend to."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "of the real world kind."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "or I would come out of nowhere and sink my teeth deep into Roy's skull just because."
Yes, well, if there is one truth of the world, it is this.
Even Mercenaries Love Foods. Vincent Thompson, Mercenary Captain, is cheerfully sitting off to one side of the restaurant that Roy's in. He hasn't been paying THAT much attention to other patrons. He's just been eating his food, and quietly negotiating with a few merchants and the like who've been filtering in and out. Nothing major. Just trying to get a better price on Ferro-Fibrous armor and mech parts, really!
I'm sure that nothing bad will come of this.
Axis is a nice enough place but it's still an asteroid hurtling through the void of space. It can get a bit cramped at times. Besdies, even a despotic regent like Haman Karn needs to relax once in a while, unwind and take it easy. She's not even wearing her usual black today as she strolls into the restaraunt where destiny and fate are being served along with Burgers and Fries today. Truth be told, she's wearing a breezy little Sundress, white with little frills along the flaring skirt portion. It has no sleeves and instead, she's chosen to wear matching white gloves and a wide-brimmed white hat with her hair bulled into a rough ponytail behind her head and a pair of purple sunglasses resting on her nose. White, thigh-high stockings and a pair of simple slip-on white flats complete the look. Yeah, she looks almost nothing like the imposing, slightly unbalanced commander of the Divine Crusaders today.
Slightly unbalanced? Haw! Ahem. Finishing off his beer, Roy waves down the waitress. "Get me a refill, will you?" As she walks away, Roy enjoys that view as well, that is until a pretty little number in a sundress saunters by. Mmm, where's a rainshower when you need one?
Pink hair? Well, he's seen more people with that, so the connection isn't made for just looking at Haman's rump as he settles back down, plucking an onion ring and chewing on it.
Vincent just blinks, looking up at the sundress. Hmmm. Pink hair? That's odd. Don't see that every day, but, eh, whatever. He just shrugs, dismisses it, and then goes back to his steak, munching away and enjoying a beer as he flips through the Routine Paperwork that is involved with running a mercenary company. Fun, really.
I mean, do you know HOW hard it is to justify Sniper Rifles as a business expense?
...Which, come to think it, would make more sense if Vincent actually, y'know, paid taxes.
Walking up to the counter, lost in her own thoughts and thus completely unaware of her sworn enemy and one of her hired goons sitting not too far away, Haman orders a Chicken Caesar Salad with Light French Dressing, a Diet Cola and a piece of chocolate cheesecake. Unfortunately, due to the environment in Axis, it's impossible to properly make the cheese needed for cheesecake, so she has to come here to indulge her cravings every now and then. At least she doesn't have to worry about being captured in the Hub. One more advantage of a nice, neutral space where no violence can occur.
Paying for her food with a 'borrowed' credit card under the name of Meer Campbell, the young woman makes her way to a table, just across from Roy's and sits in such a way as to face him. Still, she doesn't notice as her attention is on her food and her thoughts are far, far away.
Roy watches for a long moment, then leans over the table to the guy next to him. "Hey, hey, check out her six. Now that, my friend.. is a hot piece of ta--." then the Veritech pilot bothers to actually look at who he is talking to.
...
"You!" the pilot says, smirking widely. "You're that jerk with the rip off destroids!" he says, glaring at Vincent, then shrugs. "Oh well, neutral territory and all that. Pardon me for a second."
Standing up, he gathers up his beer and goes to Haman's table, flips around a chair and sits in it backwards. "Well, hello there~." he offers with a grin. "What's a gorgeous little flower like you doing all alone in a big ole place like this?"
Haman slips off her glasses, those cold, calculating eyes peering over at Roy. She's about to smile when her lips turn into a tight little line of barely controlled hatred. "Plotting the best way to cook mutton. You seem to have a few extra sheep around, perhaps it's time to cull them."
Her lips slip into a mocking smile. She knows she can't hurt him here and he can't hurt her. Technologically enforced neutral ground can be such a wonderful thing. "Thank you for the Christmas present, I'm sure it took all of a milisecond to think of. I do so hope you're getting a lot of use of the one I sent you."
Vincent Thompson snorts, eyeing Fokker as he stands up. "Hey! It's the jackass with the tacnukes. Hope you enjoyed your Christmas Beer, Fokker."
And, being a truly evil and malicious mercenary...
Vincent steals all of Roy's Onion Rings and eats them once he's stepped off to hit on girls. They are /delicious/.
And then he blinks and stares as Roy wanders off to hit on teh girl in the sundress. And blinkblinkblinks rapidly.
"Wait...isn't that---nah, couldn't be."
Roy stares blankly at Haman. What, is it pilots eat free day here or something? Setting down his beer after taking a drink, the pilot grins widely. "Someone sounds jealous.. and ah, I fully belive in regifting - maybe you should ask Vincent about your present to him, hmm?" he says in a teasing lit.
Onion rings are sacrificed to a greater good, really.
"So tell me, Haman~" the pilot takes his beer and sits back. "Is there really nothing between you and your Lacus Clyne's at the moment?"
"You'll never find out, Fokker," Haman once again makes the man's last name sound almost, but not quite like a certain profanity. She smiles a bit more, relaxing as she realizes he really can't do her any harm here. She looks across at Vincent and nods, letting him know that yes, it is her.
"Since we cannot engage in battle here thanks to the ridiculous security devices, let us just talk, shall we?" Her attention is once more on Roy, those blue eyes of hers seemingly feverishly intense. "And allow me to buy you a drink. Consider it a sign of appreciation for a worthy adversary." She's apparently having one of her more stable days.
Vincent Thompson was apparently planning on regifting the regift to someone he doesn't like. Maybe change the tag to Fokker and send it to Superman. Still, since he has the thing with him under the table, in its box....
Vincent casually uses his LEET SNEEKY POWERS to put the box on Fokker's chair, then cuts the bits off the burger that Roy's eaten and steals the burger, too.
Why?
Because Vincent is EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL!
And, with that, and paying some attention to what Fokker and Haman are saying, he goes back to his own meal. [3
That's okay, Roy was full anyway. Burgers are as big as your head. "True enough." Roy says casually, looking at Haman, then leans in really close. "Sure, then maybe we can find someplace a little more pilot and I'll make you scream in a totally different way." he teases, then settles back.
"Or you can invite your boyfriend to come over here and hang out as well. Unless he's the watching type, or something. What's his name again, Karn? Thomas? Vick? Something like that?" Roy smirks. "But sure, we can have a drink or whatever. Worked back in the first world war."
"His name is Vincent, Vincent Thompson and he is far from a boyfriend, merely a hired underling." Haman chuckles and orders a strawberry margarita for herself and an imported Irish beer for Roy. "A rather skilled and valuable underling, but still merely the hired help."
"And it's very nice to see, Commander Fokker, that you have mastered the art of the single entendre. How very popular you must be among you female pilots. How many of them have sued for harassment, I wonder?"
Vincent is not moving until he has finished his steak.
It is a good steak.
Still, he does snort a bit at Haman's comments. Great. Still, there's one advantage to being talked about like that. I mean, at least it's better than working for the Liao!
"Hired underling. Such respect for those that are probably better in a mech than you are, Karn." Roy smirks widely as he leans on the back of the chair with his chest. "Now now, Karn, unlike you, most of them know I'm teasing." A hint of locket shows on the inside of his shirt.
"Anyway, on to better topics, hmm? What do you have planned for the new year. Resolutions? And oh, the whole 'Destroy you' is cliche`d, what else you got?" Roy asks almost casually as the beer and margarita arrive.
Making sure that the salt is evenly placed around edge of her drink, Haman looks back to Roy. "I can assure you, I was not going to even make that resolution this year. I have far more ambitious goals. The destruction of the White Base, Liberating more worlds from IPA control, aiding my allies in the Syndicate when I feel it necessary."
Taking a sip of her drink, she enjoys the cool feeling as it slides down her throat, "I can assure you, there is more to my life and plans than simply wishing to see you dead. If I merely wanted you dead, I'd have someone else do it for me, hire and assassin or somesuch. But, I actually have more respect for you than that. You and I would have made an excellent team, had the fates been aligned differently. You'd look very dashing in a Zeon uniform you know."
Roy tches, taking another sip from his beer. "Though my name is German, Karn, I don't have any desire to be a Nazi, Space or otherwise." the pilot smirks. "My great granfather left that world shortly after the first world war that went down."
"Anyway, I can make most any outfit look good. But, you do have me curious.. Char betrays you, you want to be on the same side as Amuro - why hang out with Zeon when you could just as easily walk away, hmm?"
Vincent polishes off his steak, and casually leans back, the mechwarrior eyeing Haman and Fokker. No, he thinks he'll stay out of that conversation for a moment. Well, at least until his next beer arrives. He needs delicious beer to deal with his own commander's idiosyncracies and Fokker's annoying tendencies!
Sipping at her drink again and listening to Roy, Haman ponders her answer for a bit before responding. "I support the basic ideals behind Zeon. I have no love for the Zabi family itself, aside from Mineva. They were scheming, plotting, evil monsters who twisted a noble ideal into a totalitarian regime. What I believe in is the liberation of mankind from the weight of earth. It's gravity, it's history, it's way of keeping us from reaching our true potential. The Earth Federation, even your IPA, seeks to maintain the status quo, to keep things stagnant and the way they are. Yes, that may be peace but peace does not lead to progress."
Turning to look Roy right in the eyes, she continues. "All of the great technological and social leaps forward have been a result of conflict. Antibiotics were developed to save the lives of soldiers, the space program was an offshoot of the German V-2 Rocket, cybernetic limbs were made to return injured warriors to the battlefield. Even the current dominion of Homo Sapiens over the earth was because you destroyed the Neanderthals. Humanity cannot progress as long as it is content to exist on the earth. Newtypes like myself and Amuro are the future of man. We cannot be afraid of the evolutionary struggle before us. We cannot allow fear of the unknown tommorow to cripple us today. That is why I fight, that is why I oppose your IPA." She says this all without raising her voice, without shouting or getting excited.
Roy blinks, honestly confused by this. "Is that what you think?" he asks. "..if that was the case, then the SDF-1 would not be in space at this time, Haman, am I right? We would have buried it much like trash, instead of letting it move us forward."
The pilot smirks, "I hate to point out this very simple flaw in your logic, but really - I have no plans on letting Amuro become 'status quo'. If he wants to learn, then I'll do what I can. But if he wants to live his life the way he wants to live it, then I will firmly support that endeavor as well. And I will not let anyone force him into otherwise."
"Yet, you support the IPA, you support the Earth Federation and it's desire to keep the colonies and all of mankind on it's leash. Why? If you believe in progress, why do you continue to work for them?" She chuckles a bit at something. "I never said my ideals were logical, most cherished belief systems aren't. All religions would fall apart if subjected to the cold light of logic."
"Still, you do make a valid point. But, let me ask this. Was the devlopment of your SDF-1 a completely peaceful action or was it done as a defense against what you thought might be coming to collect it? You made weapons from it, you created your Veritechs using it. Those were not peaceful actions. The SDF-1 is NOT a ship of peace but a weapon of war. Progress through conflict."
"I.. the IPA supports Amuro and the Earth Federation because it's what we are asked to do. Maybe you should ask Amuro why he believes what he does?" Roy smirks. "I'm not here to wax the political, I'm just here to fly the plane and make sure the world doesn't fall into the night."
"I was there when the SDF-1 slammed into Earth. It sank the carrier I was stationed on, and I was only one of ten survivors." the pilot smirks. "However, I saw it as a step forward as I stepped aboard the craft with the search teams. It wasn't until we saw the video left to use from the owner of the ship showing what was coming that we knew we had to defend ourselves."
Tipping back the beer, Roy smiles thinly. "..the Zentraedi do not listen to reason. They would have rolled over us all in order to get that ship back. We did what was neccessary to defend ourselves - you can call it a little of column A and a little of column B."
Haman Karn nods. "That is where we differ, Roy Fokker. I am a politician as well as a soldier. I have to think of the bigger picture and not just fly the plane and follow orders. I have to give those orders and that means sending young men and women to their deaths for my ideals. I ask nothing of them that I would not give myself. I am willing to die for my ideals, are you willing to die for the Earth Federation or the IPA?"
"And you think I do not do the same?" Roy asks with a smirk. "I am responsible for every single last one of my pilots, be it Skull, Vermillion, or any of the other squadrons on the SDF-1 or a Black Sheep. I take it personal when someone tries to blow one of them out of the sky."
Finishing off the beer, Roy meets Haman's eyes. "If I felt differently, would we not have already met at least twice in your worlds skies to settle things?" he asks simply. Come on, you should have known that answer, Haman.
"Are you just as willing?" Roy thinks to ask.. "To sacrifice yourself for what you refer to as 'a hired underling?'"
"No." Haman responds frankly, "Vicent is a mercenary. He fights for money, not for the cause I believe in. However, were you to ask the same about Bernard Wiseman, Shin Matsunaga, Yzak Joule or Johnny Ridden, I would not hesitate to say yes."
"That's where we differ. Those are all people from your timeline. I'd protect Amuro Ray with my life, even if his life has no bearing at all with my world." Roy retorts. "Why? Because he's not only my pilot and my responsibility, he's also a friend."
Vincent Thompson is still here, you know. Hmmph. And just when he was feeling bad about plotting the assassination of one of Zeon's officers because he's a dangerous asshole. Vincent sips his beer, and idly keeps listening. Fascinating stuff, really. I mean, granted, he's never trusted zealots, but at least the pay's good. Ah well.
Haman Karn says, "How little you know. Yzak Joule is not from my time or my world. He fights for what he believes in." She finishes her drink and stands, preparing to leave. "I will see you on the battlefield Roy. And tell Amuro something for me, tell him that we had this little conversation and that if it came down to it, I would die for him as well. He is too valuable to the future to allow to perish for a cause as stupid as the Federation's.""
"Sure, Haman, I'll keep that in mind." Standing up, Roy smiles faintly. "You know, you really are pretty gorgeous woman." the pilot comments, sliding an arm around her waist and plants the faintest of kisses on her cheek. "In another time, another place - it could have been fun." he gives her a wink, and sets down some money for the tip, since he's already paid his bill.
But Vincent stole his Onion Rings. Victory.
Pressing herself a bit closer to Roy, Haman looks him right in the eyes and smirks. "And, were things different, I would let you show me a new way to scream. I sometimes lose myself in the passion of the moment. Then again, you know that. Believe me, there are more battlefields than just those of cold space and harsh ground. Even a bedroom can be a battlefield, a struggle for control." And with that, she pushes away, grabs her hat and heads for the door. "Oh and Vincent, strategy meeting tommorow and oh nine hundred hours. Please be on time."
Roy doesn't need to look any further than Agrias for proof of that fact.
Vincent Thompson lazily salutes Haman, relaxing in his chair, and hmmphs quietly to himself. Heh. So, he's the hired help, neh? Well, good to know. If there's one thing that Vincent's always been good at, it's having a backup plan...Heh.
WHERE: The Hub - Terminus
WHEN: Saturday, Dec 30
WHAT: While getting a bite to eat in the neutral zone, Roy hits on the wrong lady - talks follow.
The Hub - Terminus
The Terminus is a great, immense facility that is at once a mixture of an alien ruin and a supermodern airport. The superstructure consists of towering blue vines, sometimes as thick as tree trunks, that wind and stretch about, forming great pillars and archways as they curl together. The same material forms the floor, instead of steel or stone. Ramps lead to stacked concentric circles, where the cables form archways leading into the numerous Gates taking people to the rest of the cosmos - and then some.
However, mixed in with this is a variety of architecture - both modern, sleek units and alien technology ranging from organic to stone monoliths - that houses a series of overpriced shops and restaurants. Hotels and the like can even be found mixed in, allowing every amenity one might imagine.
On the southern end of this immense room is a great archway, which leads into the Hub itself. It is large enough for small spaceships, while containing ramps and catwalks for vehicles and men on foot alike to cross at their own pace.
Fine, since you two are cowards~ Not really. In one of the restaurants that dot the Terminus, a lone, very tall figure sits at a table, a half-eaten double bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and half a mug of beer on the table itself, as Roy Fokker handles a double duty.
On one hand - there's reports. On the other? This is a target-rich environment, as they say - the Veritech pilot can't help but to track the occassional aft that crosses by his position.
Haruhi Suzumiya has connected.
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "OH SHI."
[OOC] Vincent Thompson says, "Oh God No."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "HI GUYS WHAS HAPP'NIN"
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "I DID NOT MEAN THAT POSE TO SUMMON YOU."
[OOC] Mai Tokiha says, "Haruhi!"
[OOC] Vincent Thompson says, "ROY, YOU BASTARD"
[OOC] Vincent Thompson says, "YOU'LL KILL US ALL!"
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "
Fine, since you two are cowards~ Not really. In one of the restaurants that dot the Terminus, a lone, very tall figure sits at a table, a half-eaten double bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and half a mug of beer on the table itself, as Roy Fokker handles a double duty.
On one hand - there's reports. On the other? This is a target-rich environment, as they say - the Veritech pilot can't help but to track the occassional aft that crosses by his position.
"
[OOC] Mai Tokiha also tol'y comes back from cleaning up outside.
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "Show me this...pose. ~_~"
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya :|
[OOC] Mai Tokiha says, "GAH."
[OOC] Roy Fokker says, "DO NOT WANT."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "Fortunately for all of you, I have business to attend to."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "of the real world kind."
[OOC] Haruhi Suzumiya says, "or I would come out of nowhere and sink my teeth deep into Roy's skull just because."
Yes, well, if there is one truth of the world, it is this.
Even Mercenaries Love Foods. Vincent Thompson, Mercenary Captain, is cheerfully sitting off to one side of the restaurant that Roy's in. He hasn't been paying THAT much attention to other patrons. He's just been eating his food, and quietly negotiating with a few merchants and the like who've been filtering in and out. Nothing major. Just trying to get a better price on Ferro-Fibrous armor and mech parts, really!
I'm sure that nothing bad will come of this.
Axis is a nice enough place but it's still an asteroid hurtling through the void of space. It can get a bit cramped at times. Besdies, even a despotic regent like Haman Karn needs to relax once in a while, unwind and take it easy. She's not even wearing her usual black today as she strolls into the restaraunt where destiny and fate are being served along with Burgers and Fries today. Truth be told, she's wearing a breezy little Sundress, white with little frills along the flaring skirt portion. It has no sleeves and instead, she's chosen to wear matching white gloves and a wide-brimmed white hat with her hair bulled into a rough ponytail behind her head and a pair of purple sunglasses resting on her nose. White, thigh-high stockings and a pair of simple slip-on white flats complete the look. Yeah, she looks almost nothing like the imposing, slightly unbalanced commander of the Divine Crusaders today.
Slightly unbalanced? Haw! Ahem. Finishing off his beer, Roy waves down the waitress. "Get me a refill, will you?" As she walks away, Roy enjoys that view as well, that is until a pretty little number in a sundress saunters by. Mmm, where's a rainshower when you need one?
Pink hair? Well, he's seen more people with that, so the connection isn't made for just looking at Haman's rump as he settles back down, plucking an onion ring and chewing on it.
Vincent just blinks, looking up at the sundress. Hmmm. Pink hair? That's odd. Don't see that every day, but, eh, whatever. He just shrugs, dismisses it, and then goes back to his steak, munching away and enjoying a beer as he flips through the Routine Paperwork that is involved with running a mercenary company. Fun, really.
I mean, do you know HOW hard it is to justify Sniper Rifles as a business expense?
...Which, come to think it, would make more sense if Vincent actually, y'know, paid taxes.
Walking up to the counter, lost in her own thoughts and thus completely unaware of her sworn enemy and one of her hired goons sitting not too far away, Haman orders a Chicken Caesar Salad with Light French Dressing, a Diet Cola and a piece of chocolate cheesecake. Unfortunately, due to the environment in Axis, it's impossible to properly make the cheese needed for cheesecake, so she has to come here to indulge her cravings every now and then. At least she doesn't have to worry about being captured in the Hub. One more advantage of a nice, neutral space where no violence can occur.
Paying for her food with a 'borrowed' credit card under the name of Meer Campbell, the young woman makes her way to a table, just across from Roy's and sits in such a way as to face him. Still, she doesn't notice as her attention is on her food and her thoughts are far, far away.
Roy watches for a long moment, then leans over the table to the guy next to him. "Hey, hey, check out her six. Now that, my friend.. is a hot piece of ta--." then the Veritech pilot bothers to actually look at who he is talking to.
...
"You!" the pilot says, smirking widely. "You're that jerk with the rip off destroids!" he says, glaring at Vincent, then shrugs. "Oh well, neutral territory and all that. Pardon me for a second."
Standing up, he gathers up his beer and goes to Haman's table, flips around a chair and sits in it backwards. "Well, hello there~." he offers with a grin. "What's a gorgeous little flower like you doing all alone in a big ole place like this?"
Haman slips off her glasses, those cold, calculating eyes peering over at Roy. She's about to smile when her lips turn into a tight little line of barely controlled hatred. "Plotting the best way to cook mutton. You seem to have a few extra sheep around, perhaps it's time to cull them."
Her lips slip into a mocking smile. She knows she can't hurt him here and he can't hurt her. Technologically enforced neutral ground can be such a wonderful thing. "Thank you for the Christmas present, I'm sure it took all of a milisecond to think of. I do so hope you're getting a lot of use of the one I sent you."
Vincent Thompson snorts, eyeing Fokker as he stands up. "Hey! It's the jackass with the tacnukes. Hope you enjoyed your Christmas Beer, Fokker."
And, being a truly evil and malicious mercenary...
Vincent steals all of Roy's Onion Rings and eats them once he's stepped off to hit on girls. They are /delicious/.
And then he blinks and stares as Roy wanders off to hit on teh girl in the sundress. And blinkblinkblinks rapidly.
"Wait...isn't that---nah, couldn't be."
Roy stares blankly at Haman. What, is it pilots eat free day here or something? Setting down his beer after taking a drink, the pilot grins widely. "Someone sounds jealous.. and ah, I fully belive in regifting - maybe you should ask Vincent about your present to him, hmm?" he says in a teasing lit.
Onion rings are sacrificed to a greater good, really.
"So tell me, Haman~" the pilot takes his beer and sits back. "Is there really nothing between you and your Lacus Clyne's at the moment?"
"You'll never find out, Fokker," Haman once again makes the man's last name sound almost, but not quite like a certain profanity. She smiles a bit more, relaxing as she realizes he really can't do her any harm here. She looks across at Vincent and nods, letting him know that yes, it is her.
"Since we cannot engage in battle here thanks to the ridiculous security devices, let us just talk, shall we?" Her attention is once more on Roy, those blue eyes of hers seemingly feverishly intense. "And allow me to buy you a drink. Consider it a sign of appreciation for a worthy adversary." She's apparently having one of her more stable days.
Vincent Thompson was apparently planning on regifting the regift to someone he doesn't like. Maybe change the tag to Fokker and send it to Superman. Still, since he has the thing with him under the table, in its box....
Vincent casually uses his LEET SNEEKY POWERS to put the box on Fokker's chair, then cuts the bits off the burger that Roy's eaten and steals the burger, too.
Why?
Because Vincent is EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL!
And, with that, and paying some attention to what Fokker and Haman are saying, he goes back to his own meal. [3
That's okay, Roy was full anyway. Burgers are as big as your head. "True enough." Roy says casually, looking at Haman, then leans in really close. "Sure, then maybe we can find someplace a little more pilot and I'll make you scream in a totally different way." he teases, then settles back.
"Or you can invite your boyfriend to come over here and hang out as well. Unless he's the watching type, or something. What's his name again, Karn? Thomas? Vick? Something like that?" Roy smirks. "But sure, we can have a drink or whatever. Worked back in the first world war."
"His name is Vincent, Vincent Thompson and he is far from a boyfriend, merely a hired underling." Haman chuckles and orders a strawberry margarita for herself and an imported Irish beer for Roy. "A rather skilled and valuable underling, but still merely the hired help."
"And it's very nice to see, Commander Fokker, that you have mastered the art of the single entendre. How very popular you must be among you female pilots. How many of them have sued for harassment, I wonder?"
Vincent is not moving until he has finished his steak.
It is a good steak.
Still, he does snort a bit at Haman's comments. Great. Still, there's one advantage to being talked about like that. I mean, at least it's better than working for the Liao!
"Hired underling. Such respect for those that are probably better in a mech than you are, Karn." Roy smirks widely as he leans on the back of the chair with his chest. "Now now, Karn, unlike you, most of them know I'm teasing." A hint of locket shows on the inside of his shirt.
"Anyway, on to better topics, hmm? What do you have planned for the new year. Resolutions? And oh, the whole 'Destroy you' is cliche`d, what else you got?" Roy asks almost casually as the beer and margarita arrive.
Making sure that the salt is evenly placed around edge of her drink, Haman looks back to Roy. "I can assure you, I was not going to even make that resolution this year. I have far more ambitious goals. The destruction of the White Base, Liberating more worlds from IPA control, aiding my allies in the Syndicate when I feel it necessary."
Taking a sip of her drink, she enjoys the cool feeling as it slides down her throat, "I can assure you, there is more to my life and plans than simply wishing to see you dead. If I merely wanted you dead, I'd have someone else do it for me, hire and assassin or somesuch. But, I actually have more respect for you than that. You and I would have made an excellent team, had the fates been aligned differently. You'd look very dashing in a Zeon uniform you know."
Roy tches, taking another sip from his beer. "Though my name is German, Karn, I don't have any desire to be a Nazi, Space or otherwise." the pilot smirks. "My great granfather left that world shortly after the first world war that went down."
"Anyway, I can make most any outfit look good. But, you do have me curious.. Char betrays you, you want to be on the same side as Amuro - why hang out with Zeon when you could just as easily walk away, hmm?"
Vincent polishes off his steak, and casually leans back, the mechwarrior eyeing Haman and Fokker. No, he thinks he'll stay out of that conversation for a moment. Well, at least until his next beer arrives. He needs delicious beer to deal with his own commander's idiosyncracies and Fokker's annoying tendencies!
Sipping at her drink again and listening to Roy, Haman ponders her answer for a bit before responding. "I support the basic ideals behind Zeon. I have no love for the Zabi family itself, aside from Mineva. They were scheming, plotting, evil monsters who twisted a noble ideal into a totalitarian regime. What I believe in is the liberation of mankind from the weight of earth. It's gravity, it's history, it's way of keeping us from reaching our true potential. The Earth Federation, even your IPA, seeks to maintain the status quo, to keep things stagnant and the way they are. Yes, that may be peace but peace does not lead to progress."
Turning to look Roy right in the eyes, she continues. "All of the great technological and social leaps forward have been a result of conflict. Antibiotics were developed to save the lives of soldiers, the space program was an offshoot of the German V-2 Rocket, cybernetic limbs were made to return injured warriors to the battlefield. Even the current dominion of Homo Sapiens over the earth was because you destroyed the Neanderthals. Humanity cannot progress as long as it is content to exist on the earth. Newtypes like myself and Amuro are the future of man. We cannot be afraid of the evolutionary struggle before us. We cannot allow fear of the unknown tommorow to cripple us today. That is why I fight, that is why I oppose your IPA." She says this all without raising her voice, without shouting or getting excited.
Roy blinks, honestly confused by this. "Is that what you think?" he asks. "..if that was the case, then the SDF-1 would not be in space at this time, Haman, am I right? We would have buried it much like trash, instead of letting it move us forward."
The pilot smirks, "I hate to point out this very simple flaw in your logic, but really - I have no plans on letting Amuro become 'status quo'. If he wants to learn, then I'll do what I can. But if he wants to live his life the way he wants to live it, then I will firmly support that endeavor as well. And I will not let anyone force him into otherwise."
"Yet, you support the IPA, you support the Earth Federation and it's desire to keep the colonies and all of mankind on it's leash. Why? If you believe in progress, why do you continue to work for them?" She chuckles a bit at something. "I never said my ideals were logical, most cherished belief systems aren't. All religions would fall apart if subjected to the cold light of logic."
"Still, you do make a valid point. But, let me ask this. Was the devlopment of your SDF-1 a completely peaceful action or was it done as a defense against what you thought might be coming to collect it? You made weapons from it, you created your Veritechs using it. Those were not peaceful actions. The SDF-1 is NOT a ship of peace but a weapon of war. Progress through conflict."
"I.. the IPA supports Amuro and the Earth Federation because it's what we are asked to do. Maybe you should ask Amuro why he believes what he does?" Roy smirks. "I'm not here to wax the political, I'm just here to fly the plane and make sure the world doesn't fall into the night."
"I was there when the SDF-1 slammed into Earth. It sank the carrier I was stationed on, and I was only one of ten survivors." the pilot smirks. "However, I saw it as a step forward as I stepped aboard the craft with the search teams. It wasn't until we saw the video left to use from the owner of the ship showing what was coming that we knew we had to defend ourselves."
Tipping back the beer, Roy smiles thinly. "..the Zentraedi do not listen to reason. They would have rolled over us all in order to get that ship back. We did what was neccessary to defend ourselves - you can call it a little of column A and a little of column B."
Haman Karn nods. "That is where we differ, Roy Fokker. I am a politician as well as a soldier. I have to think of the bigger picture and not just fly the plane and follow orders. I have to give those orders and that means sending young men and women to their deaths for my ideals. I ask nothing of them that I would not give myself. I am willing to die for my ideals, are you willing to die for the Earth Federation or the IPA?"
"And you think I do not do the same?" Roy asks with a smirk. "I am responsible for every single last one of my pilots, be it Skull, Vermillion, or any of the other squadrons on the SDF-1 or a Black Sheep. I take it personal when someone tries to blow one of them out of the sky."
Finishing off the beer, Roy meets Haman's eyes. "If I felt differently, would we not have already met at least twice in your worlds skies to settle things?" he asks simply. Come on, you should have known that answer, Haman.
"Are you just as willing?" Roy thinks to ask.. "To sacrifice yourself for what you refer to as 'a hired underling?'"
"No." Haman responds frankly, "Vicent is a mercenary. He fights for money, not for the cause I believe in. However, were you to ask the same about Bernard Wiseman, Shin Matsunaga, Yzak Joule or Johnny Ridden, I would not hesitate to say yes."
"That's where we differ. Those are all people from your timeline. I'd protect Amuro Ray with my life, even if his life has no bearing at all with my world." Roy retorts. "Why? Because he's not only my pilot and my responsibility, he's also a friend."
Vincent Thompson is still here, you know. Hmmph. And just when he was feeling bad about plotting the assassination of one of Zeon's officers because he's a dangerous asshole. Vincent sips his beer, and idly keeps listening. Fascinating stuff, really. I mean, granted, he's never trusted zealots, but at least the pay's good. Ah well.
Haman Karn says, "How little you know. Yzak Joule is not from my time or my world. He fights for what he believes in." She finishes her drink and stands, preparing to leave. "I will see you on the battlefield Roy. And tell Amuro something for me, tell him that we had this little conversation and that if it came down to it, I would die for him as well. He is too valuable to the future to allow to perish for a cause as stupid as the Federation's.""
"Sure, Haman, I'll keep that in mind." Standing up, Roy smiles faintly. "You know, you really are pretty gorgeous woman." the pilot comments, sliding an arm around her waist and plants the faintest of kisses on her cheek. "In another time, another place - it could have been fun." he gives her a wink, and sets down some money for the tip, since he's already paid his bill.
But Vincent stole his Onion Rings. Victory.
Pressing herself a bit closer to Roy, Haman looks him right in the eyes and smirks. "And, were things different, I would let you show me a new way to scream. I sometimes lose myself in the passion of the moment. Then again, you know that. Believe me, there are more battlefields than just those of cold space and harsh ground. Even a bedroom can be a battlefield, a struggle for control." And with that, she pushes away, grabs her hat and heads for the door. "Oh and Vincent, strategy meeting tommorow and oh nine hundred hours. Please be on time."
Roy doesn't need to look any further than Agrias for proof of that fact.
Vincent Thompson lazily salutes Haman, relaxing in his chair, and hmmphs quietly to himself. Heh. So, he's the hired help, neh? Well, good to know. If there's one thing that Vincent's always been good at, it's having a backup plan...Heh.