Aberrant: Stargate Universe - Familiar Strangers in a Strangely Familiar Land

[Ryan Hawke]

"It isn't so much home, but it is where I am, where I can always come back to, just like my real home." He nods as she provides directions, notcing the quick nod to Victoria Secrets. He quickly tried to avoid picturing Olvia and Yesult in there, but to no avail. The response was a smile on his face that wasn't entirely benign.

"I have family back home sure, but we don't talk much. I get a card from them at Christmas and on my birthday, nothing more."

He looks to Damien. "I feel ya there. I got buddies I've served with who never made it outa those sandtraps halfway around the globe. I got even more who are still there."

He looks down, for the first time showing any hint of real sadness. "Including my men. My old Company was shipped out not even two weeks ago. I can't help but feel like I abandoned them."

"I got recruited for the project and left them, because I thought when I got back I'd be able to make them even better than the best."

The clouds roll back in and The Ice refreezes as Ryan cuts himself off. "Enough of that though. What's done is done. Much as you said, We have each other, we have the present, and there is always tomorrow."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"Let's eat and then shop," Olivia said, grinning. They were already grabbing attention, or Damien was anyway. Yseult was getting a lot of glares from men and women as they watched her on Damien's arm. Olivia had the sudden urge to borrow Damien's good looks for a while, but restrained herself; first, it was an awfully public to be messing around with that and second, she knew what it did to her. So she just fell into step next to Ryan and walked with them to the food court.

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan nods to Olivia as she falls into step with him. "So what are you in the mood to eat?" He looked to the others, indicating the question was to everyone.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult looked around the food court, deciding what she was in the mood for. She was slightly amused by--and in the back of her mind, she was analyzing--the effect of Damien's sppearance and presence on the other patrons. She wasn't fully aware that a not insignificant amount of attention was headed her way.

"I think I am wanting a submarine today," Yseult said, heading towards the familiar yellow and green decor.

There were only a few customers ahead of Yseult, but the line slowed down as she got there, the young man behind the counter seeming to take his time. Every few moments, he would look up from the sandwich he was preparing to give Yseult a smile. She furrowed her brow in consternation. Logically, she understood she was more attractive than she had been, but this boy had to be fifteen years younger than her, possibly more.

Yseult finally got to the counter... and waited. The attractive, in a boyish way, young man had a small smile and was simply staring at her. More precisely, at a point six inches below her chin. Yseult's eyes narrowed dangerously. After a long moment, she brought her hand to her mouth and coughed delicately.

The sandwich artist jumped, then turned his self-assured grin to Yseult's face.

"Ooops! Sorry about that, it's just I've never seen a soldier as gorgeous as you--"

"I'm not a soldi--" Yseult tried to correct, but the server continued right over her.

"--And can I do anything for you today?"

"Oui. I would like a turkey breast sub on Italian please. Double meat and swiss cheese.

"A double meaty t-breasts on the French babe, coming up. Hehe. Six inches?"

"Twelve, s'il vous plait."

"Foot long for the soldier girl..."

"I'm not a sol--"

"You lik'em big huh? You wannit hot?"

"What? Non! Non, it's fine like that."

"What would you like on it?

"A little lettuce, des tomates, some green peppers, and salt and pepper"

"'Kay, got that. Would you like my special sauce on that?"

"What?!" The Artist of Sandwiches from Subway (AKA ASS) couldn't have missed Yseult's glare, but to his credit, his smile didn't waver in the slightest.

"I said, would you like any sauce on that?"

"Mayonnaise and chipolte"

"And ca--" Anything else the ASS was going to say was cut off by the woman working the cash.

"Give me the damn sub, you prick. You have other customers waitng."

"D'enculé de ta mere, ‘tit couchon!" Yseult hissed after the retreating ASS.

As the ASS turned back to head to the other end of the counter, he spontaneously, and quite surprisingly, tripped and landed hard on his face.

"Get the fuck up Chad, and help the other customers! I don't care how hard you are!" The cash-jockey turned back to Yseult with a false smile. "Sorry about that, he's a complete dick. Is that a combo, and for here or to-go?"

"Combo, for here. Macadamia nut cookies, and a diet coke. Please."

"Do you have a Subway Car--"

"Non! Here! Keep the change."

Yseult stalked off, a cross look on her face. When she saw the other Specialists look her way though, they saw a hard, very satified smile on her lips.

She was just heading towards a group of empty tables, when she heard the ASS's voice, not loud, but cutting through the din of the food court.

"You have an awesome ass!"

Sigh.

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan watches the exchange and laughs inwardly. Yesult was attractive, there was simply no arguing that, and he thought it was hilarious that the guy just "happened" to trip. The Follow up yell over the din of the court almost made him laugh out loud. Instead he just smiled to Yesult as she rejoined the group. "Want me to find out what time he ends his shift so you cn teach him some proper manners?"

He's not teasing, and almost seems half serious. The mischief in his eyes is unmistakable.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult had two spots of bright red high on her cheeks. Her eyes were narrowed to slits, turquoise irises the only things seen. By her glare, the ASS was lucky he hadn't 'spontaneously' tripped off or through every hard surface in sight.

She seems to seriously comtemplate Ryan's offer, but finally declines with a tiny shake of her head. "Boys that age don't learn."

[Mr Fox]

Cam standing in line behind Yseult was torn between defending her honor and laughing his ass off. Instead he did his best to keep a straight face as he stepped up to make his own purchase. What a shame he didn't have Yseult's power of telekinesis. The young jerk would be wearing some of his sandwich ingredients. Looking the young man in the eyes, "So unless you want to waist time staring at my package the way you stared at the lady's body, I'll take a foot long steak and cheese with nothing but some salt and pepper, on wheat. Oh, and wash your hands, they've been all over the floor." There was a menace to Cam's words and it was obvious that he wasn't please with his friend's treatment. The young man swallowed and his face flushed, but he washed up quickly and made Cam's sub at record speed despite a slight shaking in his hands. As he was being handed off to the girl behind the counter Cam leaned in and said fairly quietly, "My father gave me a good piece of advice. If you see a pretty woman and she is standing with a man, look the man in the eyes and address him, but avoid at all cost checking out the woman's body. That can get your ass kicked real quick." He smiled again, and it wasn't friendly, "It's good advice. You should consider it in the future. Especially when the woman in question has half a dozen friends. Flirting is one thing, being disrespectful is something else."

The woman at the counter just smirked at the dressing down her partner got. "That'll be $6.37." Cam paid and grinned at her then moved to join Yseult at her table.

[Adrian Moss]

"Hawke," Caine whispers, "it's not our place to be his Mama."

In the alternating line, the Major gets his order and follows along with Yseult. He sits beside her, pulls out his sandwich, and chuckles.

"With our appetites its going to be a good midday for them. I don't think any of us have been cutting back on the portions and our waistlines are none the worse for wear."

With that, he tears into his meal with famished gusto. He chewed rapidly and make the meal disappear in what must have been record time. At least he had the sense to not talk with his mouth ful.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia scanned the food court; her expression lit up when she saw the Hibachi-San. "Oh, god... sushi!" she squeaked - there really was no other word for the excited sound she made as she began to hustle across the room. She looked back at Ryan, pointing over her shoulder. "I'm having Hibachi-San... and Orange Julius... and a cookie!" Grinning, she hopped in line, practically drooling.

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan followed her, the Sushi bar having been his preference anyway. "Eat whatever you like, I think I'm gonna see if their Imperial Plate is worth anything."

He chuckles "I haven't had good Sushi since I was in Virginia, strangely enough."

They went through lines, gathering up their food, which for Ryan was three dinnermat sized trays of sushi. He was mundane as far as his drink, drinking water only.

They finally returned to the table the group had staked out and Sat down to eat. Ryan took up his chopsticks and ate in relative quiet, and at a speed that was nothing close to what he did on base.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"Whose Mama are we not being?" Olivia asked as she sat back down. Picking up her chopsticks, she began to eat her rolls with long practice.

[Ryan Hawke]

"That little punk who was so rude at Subway." He looks to Caine. "I know it isn't our place, but there are some things I was raised to believe that you just don't do." He resumes eating his sushi, the shrimp and tuna being excellent.

[Mr Fox]

Cam chuckled around a bite of his sub. Once he was done chewing he spoke, "I spoke a few quiet words to him when I was in line and let him know his parents should have raised him better. Either he'll remember the advice I gave him or he'll keep on and get his butt kicked by someone's boyfriend someday. Either way suits me fine. Natural selection is a cruel mistress."

[Aradia McConnell]

As Livy picked up her chopsticks and ate her first couple pieces of sushi, she heard her phone vibrate and began to ring. She set her chopsticks down and reached into her purse to pick it up. It was rude to answer the phone while out to lunch with other people, but when you with the military you learned not to ignore it. A quick glance at the caller ID identified it as being from the local area based on the zip code, but it wasn't any of her identified numbers. Hesitantly, she answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Livy, what's our mother-fucking address? I'm at the mall in town trying to sign one of these stupid cell phone contracts, and they have to know where I live. I couldn't find one of those Tracfones like I used to have. Don't people sell those anymore?"

[Yseult Sierra]

As Yseult began eating her sub, she regained her composure. She could even laugh a bit about the situation. She quickly glanced around the table. Well, to myself at least.

She but down her sandwich, and reached across to give Cam and Ryan a thankful pat on the forearm. "Thank you for your chivalry, Cam, Ryan." She met each of their eyes, fully revealing her sincerity, though it was hard for her to face Ryan. "It's nice to know that Darwin gave men a chance to grow into something decent."

A surprising, impish smirk graced her lips, so quick, some might have believed they had just imagined it. "Mostly decent."

Acting all prim and proper, Yseult resumed consuming her sub, a dancing mirth in her bright, blue-green eyes.

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan nodded finishing one of his plates before responding. "You're most welcome."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia gave the address, then said, "Which mall. We're at The Citadel Mall, in the food court."

"We?"

"Uh, yeah, Yseult, whom you haven't met, Cam, whom I don't think you've met, Damien, Ryan, Gwyn and me. We're getting Yseult and Cam clothes, and I think I'm going to pick up a nice dress or two, too. Wanna join us?"

[Adrian Moss]

To himself, Caine chuckled to himself. Sometimes there was no figuring out the opposite sex.

"Well, it's the indecent parts of life that makes everything interesting."

[Aradia McConnell]

"Um, I dunno.. I just drove till I found the first mall. I think that's what it's called.. you said you're at the food court? I'll find the one here and see if it's the same mall. I'd love to join you, I don't have shit to wear. See you in a few, hopefully!"

She hung up the phone and finished her contract. After she convinced "acne-dude" at the register that she didn't want any case, headsets, or antenna "bling" for her phone, she paid the bill and hurried to the food court. It didn't take her long to find, the cell phone kiosk wasn't far away, and she hurried down the stairs to reach the court. She scanned the crowds until her eyes finally fell on Livy, along with her entourage. She waved at Livy and Gwyn, who had spotted her, and headed in their direction with a grin.

"Hey - it's a small universe after all, huh?"

[Rorx]

Gwyn quickly finished off his first foot long sub, and stood to hold a chair for Ari to sit next to Olivia.

"A pleasant surprise to see you here Ari, will you be joining us for the Lady Led Spree? Us poor men only being here to carry the bags, hence the need for so many of the strongest ones they could find at short notice." he says with a broad smile as he reseats himself.

"I'll let Olivia do the introductions, while I finish this one off." As he raises the remaining foot long sub to his mouth.

[Adrian Moss]

"Addendum to that, Gwyn. Cam here is also for some buying and modeling. His wardrobe is totally no existant in its civilian mode. He may need some help with his carrying duty too."

Grinning,

"I call Yseult first."

Looking to her, massive grin spreading across his features,

"Me Numba ONe Sherpa Boss-Lady."

[Yseult Sierra]

"I don't know Damien, some of these others seem like they can carry a lot more than you." Yseult arched a taunting eyebrow, then giggled gave a womanly chuckle. "But I have seen you handle many difficult situations. I guess you will do, Majeur Caine. Let's see how much you can handle."

The unfamiliar familiarity of the captivating Caine was having a remarkable affect on the normally (formerly?) reserved Dr. Yseult. Il faisant l'acte comme une putain sur Rue Sainte-Catherine.

Yseult turned from Damien to the newly arrived Aradia, her smile intact. "Bonjour, l'ami d'Olivie. Hello, I am Yseult Di--I mean Yseult Sierra, c'est une plaisir."

[Rorx]

Gwyn swallows and wipes his lips as he replies to Damien with a grin, "Real men carry there own purchases. Which is why one of the first things I intend getting is a backpack and a suit bag. A lot of my stuff was still somewhere back in that building when it got demolished, so I could do with a number of things as well. You can only get so much stuff online, and clothes is something I've never been comfortable buying that way. Books, discs, electronics even are fine, but for clothes you really need to see how they feel and fit."

He laughs briefly, "At least that was my sister's excuse for always taking so long when we went shopping."

[Ryan Hawke]

WHe nods to the new Arrival. "Welcome to the party. I'm Ryan Hawke." He smiles and then resumes eating, starting on his third plate of Sushi. He looks up after swallowing a mouthful and smiles at Olivia. "Looks like I'll be your pack mule for today." He goes back to eating, the mirth in his voice almost infectious. Soon enough he finishes the third plate.

"Well that was a good snack."

[Aradia McConnell]

Aradia was quiet for a beat as she tried to process what the woman had just said. Then she smiled, and held out her hand with a faint shrug to shake the other woman's.

"So I'm not positive, but I kinda think you just said it was nice to meet me. If so, it's nice to meet you too. If not.. well, nice to meet you anyway. I'm Aradia, or Ari if you'd like."

The last part was to both of them as she held out a hand and shook the one Ryan stopped eating long enough to offer. She took the chair Gwyn offered with a smile, and thanks, and then flipped it around so that she could sit in it backwards, arms crossed on the back of the chair.

"So I understand there's shopping to be had. I'm totally there. This BDU crap is getting old.. it's way too stiff, you know? Oh, do you think they have a sports store here?"

Her face brightened at the thought of a decent leotard.

[Rorx]

Gwyn washed down his sub with a gulp of coffee before replying to Ari, "Here, I grabbed some shop directories on the way in, it looks like they have several sports shops listed. Hopefully you could find what you want in one of them."

http://www.shopthecitadel.com/storesdirectory_alpha.html.html

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia grinned at Aradia as she joined them, really happy to see her younger friend. "Get your phone?" she asked, breaking her cookie in half and offering half to Aradia. She didn't offer her Strawberry Xtreme from Orange Julius, and Aradia didn't expect her to; Olivia had been known to stab people with utensils if they went after her favorite fruity drink.

"Also, you should make sure to stop at Vicky's Secret with us," Olivia added, her expression becoming one of mischievous innocence. "That way, when you come home with me on leave, you have something to wear for Wakiki."

[Rorx]

Gwyn was half way througha mouth full of coffee when Olivia made her comment to Ari about Victoria's Secrets and Wakiki, and he almost spewed coffee across the table and its occupants, but managed to contain it long enough to swallow before bursting out laughing.

"Oh, that would be a great Doc. Ladies if you do that I definitely want a photo of the look on his face. Ari you would slay him on the spot. Heh, it's going to be fun enough to see his face if he agrees for us to join you for dinner tonight."

He gets a mischevious glint in his eye as he not so innocently asks, "Have you invited Kyria yet Doc?"

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"Aww, I was gonna surprise her with that!" Olivia giggled, looking at Ari to see her reaction. She'd only told her friend that she was going out to dinner and invited her to come, neglecting to tell her that Wakiki was in town and would be there.

Turning to Gwyn, she asked, "Here or to dinner? Yes to the latter, and I left a message for her about the former. She's been kinda busy and preoccupied since she got back from her trip."

[Ryan Hawke]

Silently Ryan wonders what he'd gotten himself into with this trip, but he shrugs and smiles. There was no turning back now.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult accepted Aradia's hand with grace. "That is right, I said it was nice to meet you. Sorry Aradie, I will try to curtail the French." An intrigued look came into her turquoise eyes. "I believe Janet may have mentioned your name to me, something about acclimating to your new... capabilities?"

Yseult turns back to Olivia, a questioning smile on her lips. "Who is Kyria? And Wakiki is your brother, Olivie? He and Aradie are involved?" A look shares the last question between Olivia and Aradia.

[Aradia McConnell]

Aradia's face brightened at the idea of Wakiki showing up, and she laughed at Livy, giving her a playful swat as she took the cookie and blushing a little with the laughter at Yseult's suggestion.

"No, no - nothing like that. We just know each other from a long way back. Livy's just trying to play matchmaker.. which is awfully funny, since when we were younger she was trying so hard to keep Wakiki from even thinking it, weren't you?"

She poked Livy playfully, but her cheeks were still a little pink from the blush.

[Mr Fox]

This sounded like it was shaping up into quite a little party. "Someone with a cellphone should call the restaurant and make a reservation. Better yet, if they have a private room we should reserve that. Best to do our partying away from prying eyes." He gestured toward the ladies, "Seeing supermodels scarfing down foot long subs could scandalize the public. They'll think you're binge eating!" He laughed at the image, but from some of the looks they were getting he suspected that was exactly what some people were thinking. If they knew the truth that these people always had these appetites and kept their figures they might just riot.

Once everyone had eaten Cam stood and looked around, "So I think one of the major department stores first for the basics. I'm ready for a decent pair of jeans. On the other hand, I can't wear the jeans without some shoes or boots, maybe we should hit a shoe store first?" He looked to the ladies for guidance.

[Rorx]

Gwyn gave the people around them a significant glance before he replied to part of Yseult's questions, "Kyria is a new female Specialist on the base, whose major, immediate, distinguishing feature is that she is a female Damien in terms of looks."

Having finished he stands with Cam and chips in with a grin, "Well I would agree to shoes first normally, but with the ladies present that could doom the expedition for the day. Better to get some clothes first so they are semi-limited to getting shoes to go with them than to leave the field open."

[Mr Fox]

"Wise man Gwyn. Department store it is!" Cam was trying his best not to think about going to Victoria's Secret with these women. He wasn't sure a shower could be cold enough... The artifact seriously did a number on people and well, best not to think about it.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult disposed of her garbage, then led the group of Specialists to Macy's. She shot Cam and Gwyn a look of mock anger, and gave an uppity sniff, but the twinkle in her eyes said she didn't mean it. "We are not that bad, are we? It only makes sense to have contingencies for any clothing crisis."

She reclaimed Damien's arm, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Considering what she had experienced at the Subway, she had little idea what a woman with attractiveness comparable to Damien's would have to endure. Hopefully, she would never be subjected to it.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"Well, Ari, you were fourteen at the time," Olivia said, grinning at the memory of that wild trip, "and Wakiki was just about to turn eighteen. I wouldn't be a good sister if I let him get hooked by jail bait would I? And then he met Jo-" She stopped and her smile faded a bit. "Now, things are different." She took her friend's hand a gave it a squeeze before releasing it. "If you and he can find happiness together, I'd be thrilled for you both."

[Rorx]

Gwyn smiles and shakes his head at Yseult, "Maybe you aren't all that bad, but I have spent upwards of six hours trolling shoe shops and department stores for shoes with my sister on one occasion and a girlfriend on another and they both came away empty handed because they couldn't find what they wanted. So you'll forgive me if I'm a little wary of going shoe shopping to begin things."

[Yseult Sierra]

"Pfft! Six hours. I have spent more time than that in the Underground City in Montreal. The problem is not finding the right thing, it is finding too much of the right thing. This is right for that, this other is right for this other thing." She let out s soft, wistful laugh. "François was not amused. He had to take my credit cards away. But that only happened once. Well, maybe twice... Three times at the very most."

Her soft laugh turned wicked. "He was never disappointed once we got home, though."

[Mr Fox]

Cam laughed aloud then said, "My idea of contingency for any crisis is a knife, a sidearm and an automatic weapon. Each to their own I guess." Like Yseult there was a sparkle of amusement to his eyes. Despite having the whole afternoon shopping was not one of his favorite pastimes so he quickly headed to the jeans section and picked up several pairs in a variety of brands and styles to try.

Before he could make it to a dressing room Olivia and Ari had caught up and shoved some shirts into his arms as well. He couldn't tell from behind but one of the ladies spoke, "You come out of there and model them for us, and that's an order Colonel!"

He looked over his shoulder not sure which to address and just said, "Yes ma'am." What came next was an hour and a half of changing and parading in front of the three way mirror and the ladies which came to include a couple of the store clerks as well as a changing contingent of the SGC personnel. It seemed like every time he came out more clothes were handed to him to try on. An hour and a half later there was a sizable pile of 'keepers'. Enough so that he wouldn't have to worry about everyday clothes at least. He would easily have enough to go three weeks between laundry if he was being lazy. Even with his new artifact increased stamina constantly changing clothes was wearing on him before the pile was big enough.