Joining the fleet (Pregame 2 EE Cafeteria)

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Oh man, that's terrible. How young were you? I almost lost my dad, he's paralyzed now and just that was really hard to deal with. I can't imagine."

[John Slaktare]

"i can't imagine actually having parents, happened when I was too young to remember. I know what its like to be raised by grandma instead of parents. Just a different life. Hard to know how to feel about losing someone you never knew."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"True. it's a shame but a grandma can still be a parent. Love is love, doesn't matter where it comes from."

[John Slaktare]

Yeah. Then you spend the majority of your income paying for treatments for a degenerative nervous disease, and learn that love isn't worth the breath you use to say the word. It can't help you cure the issue or stop the suffering. It can only make the pain worse. What's the phrase? If you always expect disappointment you'll never be disappointed.

"Yeah. Life is tough," is all he actually gets out.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Most people who seem uncomplicated are far from it

"It can be, it can be a real bastard."

As sad as Butchers story was Mei was happy that he was OK sharing with her, he probably didn't share this much with most.

[John Slaktare]

"But violence is reliable. Can always get paid to inflict it and it can make you feel better. Adrenaline and such," he explains. "That's why it really doesn't matter to me if I'm in the arena or on a battlefield."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I see violence as a solution not a goal. You should strive for violence for violence's sake. We could all do other things for a living and the galaxy would probably be a better place if we did."

[John Slaktare]

"Nah. The galaxy would be boring and stop functioning. Even things that aren't alive create violence. Erupting volcanoes, storms, meteors... It's just part of life. Everyone's gotta do their part," he says. It feels like it was meant to be a joke... but his expression certainly doesn't make that clear.

[Alex Kovac]

A small shrug, "Why is any small piece of a larger hole needed, really? We add up to more than the sum of our parts. Then again, there's also the fact I've heard rumors about our CO. Good ones that might explain why the Angels would be wanted in particular."

She made sure to use the unit name rather than a more general "we"; She knew why she was here, but she doubt she factored into anyone's decision to the Obsidian Angels being hired or not.

Alex nodded. "The Angel's had their ups and downs and it is a good company." The mechwarior smiled watching the show of the fighter pilots that continued to dance about the ship. "Hopefully, we will be able to do a clean job."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Nah. The galaxy would be boring and stop functioning. Even things that aren't alive create violence. Erupting volcanoes, storms, meteors... It's just part of life. Everyone's gotta do their part," he says. It feels like it was meant to be a joke... but his expression certainly doesn't make that clear.

"Yeah, probably." She said conceding the point. "So did you and Alek ever tangle in the arena on Solaris?"

[John Slaktare]

"Nope. Lot's of warriors though, so not surprising. You track his fights too?"

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I track everyone's fights. If they have fought in any of the mid to high tier arenas in the galaxy more than once I have probably heard of them and if they fought on Solaris I can probably tell you their general stats." She said with a smile. "But I learn new stuff all the time. I didn't think you two ever fought but having never been there I couldn't be sure. I'm guessing stats don't mean much to you?"

[John Slaktare]

"Only so much as they determine who I fight and don't fight with or against. They go up and down. Good stats mean a more challenging pilot, harder fight, more adrenaline and excitement. Doesn't matter if I'm top of the list or not. There's someone near my level that'll give me a run for my money."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I don't know, money and fame seem pretty nice. I mean it can't be your whole reason for fighting but I would rather live in a house than a shack and that requires money."

[John Slaktare]

"I started out fighting just for the money. Now I don't know what I'd do with it. I spend most of it on gear they'd issue me if I didn't buy it."

He looks at his water for a long moment.

"You probably enjoy great food, a drink with friends, and living life with excitement while enjoying an adventure. They're probably fun and make you feel great."

He sighs gently.

"I get that feeling when I'm in the middle of a hard fight. When all the thoughts of the world are drown out by the curiosity and question: will I survive this? If I could put all my money and belongings on a sure bet and even if I knew I'd be ridiculously rich after, it still wouldn't be as nice as coming out of a fight for my life alive. That's my reason for fighting."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Why do you sound disappointed? If that's what makes you happy then be happy, if you would like to enjoy those others things then maybe you just haven't found the right people to do them with? Yeah, I like getting dressed up fancy and going out to a nice dinner then a club or a casino but it's WAY better with good friends around you. I also enjoy combat, especially a good ambush. I love blowing the legs off something and watching it pitch forward just as it fires a volley of missiles and blows itself to bits." She said gleefully.

[Yoko Lee]

A thoughtful pause, then, "...Have you been in battle before then? I've had some rough jobs in the past,but I'm sure it'd be disrespectful to say they could be as bad as a battlefield."

[John Slaktare]

"Happy? No. Excited and intense. I feel alive when I am staring at death. Happiness has never been part of the deal. I get dressed up for mandatory formal events. I have a military uniform style suit for that. Otherwise, why dress in something that isn't comfortable?"

"The last time I smiled, I think, was before jumping here. The strategic officer and I were having a disagreement. But I didn't get to break his nose. Admittedly, it wouldn't have been a very exciting fight, but it would have been better than nothing. I prefer a fight to be in my favor, and will take any edge I can get to win, because that is the goal. But it doesn't feel the same."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Why? Because dressing sexy and looking good gives me confidence. If it were practical to wear a dress in my mech I probably would but I guess it isn't for everyone."

Mei Plunked her elbow down on the table, her arm up and hand extended ready for a grip.

"So battle me then, you like to work out lets see if those muscles are for more than just show." She said with a smirk. "We can even make a wager if you wanna spice it up a little."

[John Slaktare]

"Clothes don't make a person sexy to me, so I guess that explains one reason I don't care for dressing up," he says with a shrug. "Sweat and effort, panting in exhaustion, being raw from a hard session... that's when I feel confident, that's what I think looks good. Different strokes though."

He reaches up and mirrors the grip.

"I don't gamble. Violence is my vice. I avoid gambling, drink and drugs," he says. "Unless it's with my life."