Second Opinion (Pregame 1 EN Storage)

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Once they had drifted a bit towards a wall Mei spoke rapidly.

“Ok, first of all, did you see Cat tonight? It took about five minutes and some wine but she has become a social butterfly and I love it! She’s been talking to Alex for a long time and there have been several hugs. Oh my god its so cute. As like I said are you tonight and that Hrafn girl? Man there is so much talent on this ship.”

[Gianna Rains]

Once they had drifted a bit towards a wall Mei spoke rapidly.

“Ok, first of all, did you see Cat tonight? It took about five minutes and some wine but she has become a social butterfly and I love it! She’s been talking to Alex for a long time and there have been several hugs. Oh my god its so cute. As like I said are you tonight and that Hrafn girl? Man there is so much talent on this ship.”

"Oh, Cat's having a good time? I'm so glad. And with Alex? That's nice." Gianna smiles amicably, nodding at the image. "And you're right about Hrafna. I mean... Whoo," the Canopian says, impressed. "It was... Wait... Did you just put me in the same group?" Gianna seems genuinely surprised.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Snip

"Oh come on girl you're hot as fuck and you should know that, especially in that outfit. I wanna unwrap you like a present." She said in a feisty, playful tone.

"But listen, I have to tell you about what happened and I need your advice on something.

Do you know a guy in aerospace named Usov? Tan, really petty guy? So I’m just hanging out floating around and Richard comes up to talk to me. But just as soon as he starts talking Usov floats up and introduced himself to me with a compliment about how I look. I guess they were both floating over at the same time or something.

So we get to chatting and I find out he’s a pilot which I think is pretty cool and you know..me being me I suggested he take me for a ride some time, IN HIS JET, so I could feel some heavy G forces. Yeah there was a ton of innuendo there but I do wanna try it some time."

She paused to breath and took a swig of wine before offering Ginna the bottle.

[Gianna Rains]

Ok, that was pretty clear, Gianna thought of the unwrapping comment. I, uh, wow.

As Mei runs through the sequence of news, Gianna tries to listen attentively, at least to take some of the edge off the firestorm in her head from the flirting. She nods at mention of Usov.

"Ah, ok. Well, Usov is like that. More flirting begets more flirting. But he'll definitely give you a ride. I mean... Multiple rides, probably, in whatever setting..." She trails off. Maybe I drank more from that sippy cup than i thought...

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"You speaking from experience there?" She said wryly. "Good to know, I'm sure if he was that daring he won't give up but given what happened next.

Anyway so as we are talking and the countdown starts and I am scrambling. I told you I wasn’t going to going to miss out on a New Years kiss but I was there with a guy I didn’t know and my friend and of two years who was now my C/O. So I kissed them both because fuck it why not. I kissed Richard first, only seemed right since we have fought and bleed together I figure he earned it. Then I kissed that Usov guy.

Neither was anything special, just upholding a tradition. Richard was silent so I’m kinda worried I messed up cause of the whole subordinate thing but Usov, Usov just looks at both of us and immediately suggests a threesome.

Richard just looked shocked but I had to stop myself laughing. The idea that someone I had just met like two minutes prior was THAT bold! I think I gave him a line about turning me into a Canopian finger trap and then told him we could talk after I got that flight and left. Can you believe that?”

She had meant Capellan finger trap but between the drink and the distractions she missed her mistake.

[Gianna Rains]

Gianna does her best to keep up with Mei's flurry of news. A Canop--wait a minute!

"Ok, wait. Wait," Gianna says, waving her duck-holding hand because she doesn't want to let go of Mei's fore arm and risk floating away.

"What are... Why are you telling me all this?" She says, a little frustrated and confused. "Is this some, 'Canopians are all slutty and loose, so G will love it' or, or, or... Or you're trying to make me jealous? No kisses for G, but Mei's got her pick and takes them all?" There's the hint that Gianna might start crying, she seems so flustered.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei stopped, and listened, and then turned white as a ghost when she realized her mistake.

"Oh my god, OH MY GOD NO!"

She reached out the take Gianna's hands.

"Nonono I'm so sorry. Capellan finger trap, CAPELLAN. I've had to much to drink and you're so hot and I just misspoken please I'm so sorry. I'm not trying to brag and I certainly don't think your a slut I would NEVER think that, I get called that all the time."

Mei was on the verge of tears she was so upset with herself.

[Gianna Rains]

Looking into Mei's eyes as she got similarly emotional and confused, Gianna stopped and shook her head a few times.

"This... Wait. Just wait. We're..." She exhales heavily. "This is silly. I'm whining, and I'm... Like..." She looks down at Mei's hands on hers, one of which is still wrapped around the toy duck that Hrafna had gifted her. "I, um..." she starts slowly, then looks back in Mei's eyes. "I'm being unfair. Was looking forward to tonight and, um," her voice changes to sound like someone reciting a commercial slogan, "all I got was this little duck." She holds it up beside her head, giving a sad bark of laughter, but she tries to smile apologetically at Mei.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei was actually mad, mad that no one thought to give Gianna a New years kiss and mad that she couldn't find her to do it herself.

Fine then, I'll do it myself.

It was supposed to be a little thing, like her kiss with Richard, but between the wine and other things she went a little overboard and Gianna found herself trapped between the wall and Mei when the kiss was done.

"Happy New Year."

[Gianna Rains]

"Happy New Year."

Gianna was trying to calm things down. They were both kind of worked up, and so she'd slowed down, very responsibly. And then, somehow, Mei was kissing her. And it was sweet, and delicate, like Gianna had hoped - Wait, was I...? - but Mei lingered, was stronger, put Gianna's back against the wall literally and figuratively. Mes dieux... Wow.

When she hears Mei speak, Gianna hasn't fully realized that the kiss has ended. Her immediate response - "Hnuh?" - is rapidly followed by "We, um. I mean, uh, wow. Was that... Richard and Usov got those?" She seems incredulous, flustered but happy, still trying to make sense of all that has happened with this woman.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"No that was just for you, they got pecks really."

Damn she has soft lips.

"If the others here didn't think to do that first then I am very lucky, I think this is going to be a great year."

[Gianna Rains]

For a moment, Gianna looks thoughtful. Then her violet eyes flash a little.

"Just me, huh," she murmurs, a statement not a question. And before Mei can say more, Gianna is pulling her into a tiny spin that puts her back to the wall, and the blue-haired girl from Canopus is delivering a serious kiss of her own.

When she relents, she murmurs, close to Mei's ear, "Yeah. Great new year," she says with just a hint of heavy breathing. Then she leans back, eying Mei with a look that may be the most composed Gianna has seemed all evening.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Well that answers some questions. But what about Alek? Fuck.

"I wasn't sure. In your room with the blushing and flustered thing you were doing, I wasn't sure if it was because you were bashful and modest or into it. Guess I got my answer."

She licked her lips and smiled.

"I was going to ask you for advice or opinions on Alek because I was thinking of giving it to him but..."

She leaned closer and whispered.

[Gianna Rains]

And just like that, Gianna's eyes are wide and she's looking flustered again. Then she has to give a little giggle.

"Well," she says quietly, giving Mei an intense look. "Maybe you'll have to work a little harder to add me to those kind of plans." Face red with nervousness, she leans in and kisses the Capellan's bottom lip, then angles herself back a little, trying to negotiate this maneuver in the zero G. "Some other night," she says, to be clear. Then Gianna smiles in what she hopes seems a sultry way.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

WOOHOO!

"That's a goal worth working towards, I look forward to it. I think we have a lot to talk about, maybe over that bottle of wine I purposely left in you room?"

She said not tonight, calm down. Alek.

"So how has your night been...I didn't pull you away from anything pressing just so I could pick your ear about someone did I?"

[Gianna Rains]

Gianna pauses, recalling the bottle that ended up effectively planted in her room. Mes dieux... This one is dangerous.

"It's... a fine night. Surprising in several ways," she says, looking at Mei and then nuzzling her new duck. "Got hugs out of Hrafna and Yori, which isn't a bad deal," she adds, looking a little thoughtful. "Almost felt like... Hm. Maybe nothing..."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Hmm? Something happen? Or happening maybe? You're a Mechwarrior right?

So shoot your shot!

Shit if you aren't gonna spend the night with me you should spend it with someone and we're surrounded by talent here. Well except Alek, I got dibs on that. So what DO you know about him? This is the part where you tell me if I'm making a huge muscular handsome mistake."

[Gianna Rains]

"Mei!" Gianna says with a giggle. "I meant that I think they might have something happening!" She shakes her head but is grinning, both at Mei's attitude and Gianna's thoughts about Hrafna and Yori.

"Anyway," she says with a feisty glare at the Capellan. "With Alek, I can't say much. He seems fun, but I've never, ah, climbed that particular mountain," she says with a smirk.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Riiiiight them. Oh, them? Hmm, I don't really know Hrafn and I only know as much as you can learn in 20 minutes but that's actually a lot in this case.

So what do you think, should I put on my climbing boots and not much else? And what about you. anyone I can help you with?"

[Gianna Rains]

Gianna closes her eyes to think, but she's smiling. She's more than a handful, but I'm getting the hang of this.

"Well, how many big mountains have you climbed? And are you just trying to cross it off your list, or..." Gianna gives an encouraging smile but also gives Mei a look, both eyebrows raised, that suggests the answers matter.