Ching Tai, Sunday Night

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Not Cafe Fina, but it's pretty good," Pip said as he opened the door for Pippi and his grandfather.

_{[[Open for everyone if they want, but Pip, Pippi, and Granpere are locked to themselves]]}

Comments

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"Oh I suspect so." Pippi said. "I'm not nearly as good a fighter as he is but I do okay."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"She can bench press a semi-truck," Pip said, accepting his handwaveily ordered beer.

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"Oh I couldn't do that." Pippi said taking a sip of her handwavey wine.

"It's too awkward. The cab would flop around and get in the way."

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

Granpere laughed.

The two of them were obviously trying to have a joke on him.

"You certainly have a point Cher."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip shrugged. "But strength isn't everything. I mean, take a look at Brian."

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"No, it doesn't always do the trick." she said.

Then changed the subject.

"I'd hoped to meet him too." She said. "Not that your company isn't delightful Captain Granpere."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Where is Brian?" Pip asked. "You said he couldn't make it?"

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

"South Africa." Granpere responded. "And bitching non-stop."

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"What's he doing in South Africa?"

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

"Aside from the bitching and the bodyguard duties? Only the most important thing any mercenary can do."

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"What's that?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"I think I know where this is going..." Pip muttered.

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

"Earning money."

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"That's the single most important thing in a mercenary's life? Just that and nothing else?"

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

"Just that." He said leaning back. "And nothing else."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes I wonder how it was my father came to exist," Pip said.

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"Possibly because he doesn't believe it actually."

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

"Don't be ridiculous girl." He says taking a few bills out and holding them out in a tightly clenched fist.

"This is what it's all about. This makes the world go around. This is power. I kill for it. My son killed for it. My grandson, he, kills for it." Granpere jabs a finger at Pip while shaking his fist full of dollars. "Everything else is meaningless."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"...Did you love Granmere?"

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

Granpere's expression shifts quickly to surprise and on to angry.

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi, with a speed she does not usually display, snatches the money out of Grandpere's hand.

"My Grandfather also killed for money. Being a pirate. He taught me much the same thing. Except pirates don't wait for somebody to come along and give them money. A pirate makes somebody give them their money or they take it." She said.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip gritted his teeth. "Guess you guys have a greater sense of intiative than we do."

[pirate-fabe.livejournal.com]

"HAW HAW HAW!" A gruff voice laughed heartily from the fourth chair at the table which had been empty a moment ago.

"Kids... They never quite listen do they?"

[for-two-cents.livejournal.com]

Granpere looked over at the dripping pirate who has suddenly appeared at their table.

"Who the hell are you?"

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi facepalms.

"Captain Burnadette, this is my Grandfather Kapten Fabian Longstocking."