A/N:
Disclaimer: We don't own Cowboy Bebop, it's characters or creations. Cowboy Bebop is the property of Shinichiro Wantanabe, Bandai and Sunrise. The characters created by us belong to us. Writing is used with permission of authors, and is also posted on our community journal.
This is a multi-authored fic based on an rpg. Each character is written by a different person, as credited in the user profile, and some characters change writers as the story goes on. Those changes will be noted. Because this story is based on an RPG, the POV changes just about every other paragraph. Typically, the character who is speaking or acting is the one who's POV the paragraph is being written from.
In addition, conversation between the characters also takes place in their journals. If the conversation is significant the plot, I'll either weave it into the story, or discuss it in an author's note just before the chapter.
I've done my best to edit grammar mistakes made by the cast as we wrote this. I probably missed some, and I'm by no means an expert.
As far as the plot goes, the story takes place in the bebop world as though most of the series as we saw it never took place. We've made some slight alterations in the story and some of the characters may have 'out of character' moments in order to make the story work the way we wanted it to. Just go with the flow - or if that bothers you, then don't read. Rememeber, it's an rpg; the characters have to interact for us to play. Characters relationships for canon Bebop are closer to the end of the series.
This Fiction is rated R for a reason. Be aware there is violence, sex, adult situations, language, adult content, and possibly offensive stuff. I'll do my best to warn at the beginning of each chapter
Finally, when you review, please remember you're leaving comments for a bunch of different people.
Thanks!
Kajouka
*********************
Three Years Later...
Faye tossed another set of tickets in the air. Another 50,000 woolongs down the drain. Was she ever going to win one of these stupid races? She rolled her eyes and turned to head back to the counter to get more tickets. "I just hope Spike doesn't find out I lost his money," she muttered.
Paris casually flipped her hair as she wandered through the crowds. She smiled inwardly as a load of people threw down their tickets in disgust as a race finished. She was a regular at the Dog Tracks, although she wasn't actually able to gamble; sometimes she convinced the ticket master to give her a few left over tickets before the races began. All it took was her sweet, convincing smile! She glanced over at an attractive woman, who's tickets fluttered about her in the air. Paris had always noticed her, as she seemed to be a regular too - and had really good fashion taste. She began to walk towards her, finally agreeing with herself to talk to the woman. As she approached her, she cleared her throat a little and outstretched her hand, "Hey, I'm Paris."
Faye stopped and turned around. "Yeah?" Oh wow, was she being rude. "I'm sorry kid. I'm Faye. I'm not exactly in the best of moods here. Can I help you with something?"
Paris kind of laughed a little, "Nothing in particular - I've noticed you're always around here, like I am, so I wanted to say hi. I'm not hitting on you or anything, don't get the wrong idea! You just look really cool. And I guess I have no where else to be right now..." She looked off to the side, but then back at Faye with a smile back on her face. "Lose another race, huh?"
Faye's face crumbled. "How could you tell?" She didn't like to think it was that obvious, nevermind the fact that she tossed her tickets away. "I was just on my way to get some more. Did you want to come?" Faye wasn't big on kids, but Ed had grown on her, and it might be nice to have another girl around.
Paris smiled. "Sure, that'd be fun. I'll have to sweet talk the ticket master into giving me some tickets, if I can..." Paris laughed again. "Hey, where do you get all the money to buy you tickets? I can barely stay alive as it is - I live alone and can't really find work. Nothing that's respectable at least..."
"Oh, I'm a bounty hunter," Faye replied, "And damn good at it." She didn't mention to the girl that the money was Spike's. "I'll buy you a few tickets ok, and then we'll watch the races together." Faye stepped up to the counter and spent another 50,000 woolongs. "Here," she said, handing a couple tickets to Paris. "I think those will be good dogs."
"Ohh I hope so - Thunderfire's my favorite dog. She never loses!" Paris clutched her tickets in her hands. "So bounty hunting... Is there an age limit to that, or could I get in on it, too?" She grinned to herself, as she imagined herself on a bust with a dangerous criminal - how exiting!
"Well, Ed's quite a bit younger than you and she helps us out. She usually does all the computer hacking for us though more than go out on the trail. I could teach you if you want." Faye didn't even realize that she on the way to adding another person to their ship.
"Ed? You live with other people?" Paris' ears perked up; she loved being around lots of people! 'Living on your own is so lonely... not to mention boring!' She thought sadly to herself.
"Yeah. Spike, Jet, Ed and I live together on a ship. And then there's the dog, Ein. We all fight more than anything, but we've had our good times, and we're a great bounty hunting team." Faye replied, as the dogs burst from their gates.
"GO ON YOU MUTTS! RUN!" Paris screamed at the top of her lungs to the dogs, as they pelted past the onlookers toward the finish line. Before she knew it, the race was over. "Well? Who won? I didn't see!" Paris cried. "First place goes to... JackRabbit!" the announcer said on the loudspeaker. Paris sighed in dismay. "Oh well... think you should be going back to your ship now? Um... I don't mean to be forward or rude or anything, but when you go back... could I come with you?" Paris looked hopefully at Faye. "It's so lonely living by myself."
Faye didn't answer at first. She was too busy looking through her tickets. "OOOOHHH I Have one for him!" She bounced. "I won something!" She didn't bother to figure how much more she had lost. "Sure kid." Faye shrugged. "I don't mind." After all, it's not my ship, she thought to herself. "You can cram into my zip craft, the red tail. Let's get out of here."
Paris beamed at Faye. "Great! Wow, you have your own zip craft? That's so cool... I hopefully will get one some day!" Paris trotted along beside Faye, as she followed her lead towards her zip craft.
Faye quickly collected her money, then led Paris to her craft. "Climb in and scooch over there," Faye ordered, waiting for the girl to get in before she climbed in herself. She started up the engines, then lifted off with little problems. "By the way, I think it might be best if we don't mention this little gambling trip to the others. They aren't too happy with my little habit." Faye said.
Paris hopped in and crammed herself into the back - she was pretty small as it is, so it wasn't a hard task for her. "No problem, I know exactly what you mean." Paris glanced around the craft in admiration, as she watched Faye enter it herself.
Faye guided the ship back towards the Bebop. "I appreciate that. Now sit back, we'll be there soon"
*********************
Julia sat quietly in the corner, her normal spot. She traced the rim of her glass with her finger and sighed. The place was dead, and she didn't see any faces familiar to her to even smile to. She was running away, yes, but still lonely as hell. Maybe running away wasn't the answer, but there really wasn't anything left for her to do.
Vicious stood just outside the bar, peering into the glass to watch the woman in the back corner drink. He was content to just see her beautiful face, watching from afar, but tonight, he would approach her. After a few more minutes of watching, he walked into the bar. "Two whiskeys" he ordered from the bartender. They used to drink whiskey together all the time. He walked over and set the glass down in front of her. "Is this seat taken?"
Julia looked up. "No" she said, calmly, not indicating anything was going on around her. She smiled slightly, "A familiar face." Pretending to rub her leg, she felt for her gun. When she was sure it was there she turned her body slightly towards Vicious, "What brings you here?"
"I was just in the neighborhood. You know I can never resist a beautiful woman," Vicious replied as he pulled out the chair and sat down. "Really Julia, I've missed you. You seem so distant. Why don't you ever come see me?" Vicious placed a hand on the table and used the other to take a sip of the whiskey.
She sighed, "I don't know, I guess I have a lot on my mind." She took a sip of the glass she had ordered for herself and gave a disappointed look when she found it was empty. "I suppose I should be more social, but ... "
Vicious pushed the whiskey her way. "I got this for you." he said shortly. "And I think you should. It's not good for you to lock yourself away." He wanted her - and it pissed him off more than anything that she still wanted Spike. He could see it written all over her face. And, at least to her, he was dead! "I could take you places, Julia. I'm going to be a powerful man soon."
Julia's face turned quickly to look at Vicious, "What?" she asked quickly, "What are you talking about?" She didn't know quite what to say to him.
Vicious reached out and took Julia's hand. "I can't give you details. It's about the Red Dragon Sydicate. But when it's all over, I want you there by my side." He gave her a serious look. "You may not care about me, Julia, but I care about you. I want to take care of you." He'd kill Spike a thousand times over to keep Julia from him.
Julia was stunned. The Red Dragon, what? Why? "Do you think you know me so well?" she said with a smile. "Do I care?" she asked. "Maybe, but it's too soon to tell."
"I suppose." Vicious stood, and placed a small piece of paper on the table. "It's my contact information. Call me." He leaned over and gave her a small kiss on the cheek." That had gone better than he'd expected. "Goodbye Julia," he said, before walking out the door.
*********************
Spike lay stretched out on the couch in the lounge of the Bebop, apparently asleep.
Faye walked into the lounge and stretched, trying to appear nonchalant about her entrance. "Oh, Spike," she said turning to the couch, "I didn't realize you were in here. That's probably a good thing, because I need to talk to you."
Without opening his eyes - barely seeming to move at all - Spike said, "This morning I had 200,000 woolongs in my room."
Faye took a step back. "Uh, that's not really what I wanted to talk to you about." She didn't think he'd notice quite so fast.
"Alright, then," Spike said perhaps a bit too calmly. "Just so long as you know. I'd hate for you to be holding out on me. So, what did you want?"
"Well, I took a little shopping trip today, you know on Mars," Faye lied, kicking herself for even mentioning anything having to do with money, "And I met this really sweet girl. She didn't have a home or a family, and well, you know how charitable I can be. Anyway, I brought her back to stay on the Bebop." Faye took another step back, and waited for Spike's reaction.
Spike sighed, but his slight smile remained on his face. Without getting up from the couch or even opening his eyes, he said, "More kids. Just great. You asked Jet about this?"
Faye put her hands on her hips. "Well no. I didn't. But I really didn't think he'd care." More lies. Faye was worried he'd shit a brick. "But at any rate, she's already here. And we can train her to catch with us."
Spike sat up and leaned forward, head hung and elbows resting on his knees. "We have a hard enough time feeding four people and a dog as as it is. You really think she'll be any good? What can she do?"
"Oh Spike, you worry way too much. Wait until you meet her. Trust me. You'll like her. She's got a spunk about her that... well, reminds me of me when I was that Age." Faye plopped down on the couch edge next to Spike, "And we all know how much you love me," she grinned, leaning over him.
"Don't remind me." Spike leaned back, putting his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling. As he did so, his hand brushed across Faye's pocket. "Hm, what's this?" he asked lazily, examining the piece of paper he'd lifted. "Looks like a racing ricket."
Faye snatched the paper out of his hand. "Since when do you mind your own business?" she huffed.
Spike stood up, stretched, and headed for the stairs. "I needed that cash to repair the Swordfish, Faye," he said, voice suddenly cold.
"What cash, Spike?" Faye said in her most innocent voice.
Spike put his foot on the first step. "You never have cash to spare for gambling, Faye," he said stringently. "I think I'll go see Jet about dinner. He said we're having bell peppers and beef."
Faye grumbled under her breathe, "so of course you assume I took your money." She didn't mention that she had taken his money. "You know he's really only making bell peppers. We only have bell peppers."
"And do you know why we only have bell peppers?" Spike shouting, turning halfway up the staircase. "Because you burn away all our money!"
"That's not fair, Spike, and you know it!" Faye yelled after him. Ok, was it her fault that she liked to gamble? She kicked the couch and turned her back to him. Sometimes he was just impossible. "Fine, I'll just have to catch another bounty."
"Good luck," Spike said peevishly. "Only ones on Mars are small fry. Highest bounty is half a million woolongs. It's not worth the fuel."
"Well then, Mr. Negativity, what do you propose we do." Faye replied, her back still turned. She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin up - her I-am-annoyed-at-you-so-you'd-best-say-the-right-thing-or-else-face-my-wrath pose.
Spike smiled and stretched. "I was gonna decide after I've had my bell peppers and beef." And with that, he walked down the hall.
*********************
Ed did a cartwheel down the stairs but missed the floor and landed on her butt. She huffed and rubbed a cheek as she hopped up and pounced onto her computer. "What fun for Edward today?"
Paris heard a soft thud, as she was wandering through the long, dull hallways of the Bebop. She stuck her head around the corner from which the sound came from. "Oh, sorry - is everything alright in here?" Paris stepped out from around the corner, "Hi, I'm Paris... who are you?"
Ed turned her head upside down and looked at the girl. Pushing her goggles up on top of her head she grinned "I am Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky 4th! And who are you?" she asked crawling over the couch and across the room until she was at the girl's feet. "A new friend?"
Faye walked into the room. "Oh good, Ed, you're here. I wanted you to meet Paris." She plopped down on the couch with a nail file and began to work on her nails.
"Paris. That is your name! Preeeettttyyyy....." Ed whispered to her as she sniffed her leg.
Paris giggled, "Yeah I guess you could say I'm a new friend - I've come to live with you here on the ship! Faye said so. And thanks - I quite like my name, too!" Paris walked casually over to a chair and herself down across from Faye.
"I thought you might enjoy having a friend on the ship, Ed," Faye continued, not letting on that she was feeling a little excited about having someone to train in her footsteps and idolize her.
"Hey could I borrow that nail file after you, Faye?" Paris looked down at her nails, which had become quite grubby. "Ugh, and a buffer, too, if you've got one..."
"OOhhhh ... " Ed trailed off as the girl went to sit down. She pushed her goggles back over her eyes and hopped up on the back of the couch behind Faye's head. "What are you doing Faye Faye?" Ed watched Paris look at her nails and she looked at her own disappointed. "Edward doesn't have pretty nails."
"Well Ed, I'm filing down my nails so that the ends are nice and smooth. If you want, we can do yours too. It would do you good to pick up some of the more feminine habits of your sex." Faye replied.
"Hey, I could fix them up for you!" Paris walked over to Ed and grabbed her hand, examining her nails "Do we have any nail polish here on the ship, guys? Or can we go shopping for some?!" Paris eyes widened in excitement at the possibility of a shopping trip.
Ed nodded. "But Faye says 'Any color but blue!'" she said imitating Faye. "Edward got to paint her toenails once!" She let Paris take her hand. "Ed doesn't have Feminine habits?" she asked looking at Faye.
"Um, I wouldn't say you do, Ed - no offense. Who named you Ed anyways... it's a guys name, isn't it?" Paris tilted her head a little.
"EDWARD NAMED HERSELF!" she shouted and hopped to the other couch, right over Faye's head. "Ed thought it was a very nice name."
"OK OK! Back to the nail polish! I have a whole bin of them," Faye said, "But a shopping trip might be a fun girl thing anyway."
Paris kind of chuckled a little, "Okay okay - it IS a nice name... now that I think about it, it really does suit you. Anyway - why don't we get off this ship for a while and go shopping? A girl can never have enough nail polish!"
"Count Edward out!" she shouted. "No shopping for Ed. You shop with Spike's money!" she said pointing at Faye. "He's not very happy either."
"Who IS this Spike?" Paris wondered out loud. "I have yet to meet him... what's he like? And how come HE has all the money? I thought Faye was the best bounty hunter around!"
Faye grimmiced. "Look Ed, can we not talk about that? And I am the best! I just have to split everything with the other morons on this ship."
Edward hissed and crawled over the back of the couch back to her computer. "Count Edward OUT." she said as she logged back in.
Paris coughed a little at Faye. "Whats her deal? Does she just sit there all day?"
Faye sighed, "ED! you're never going to grow up and be a lady if you can't learn to like Lady things!"
Edward bent her head backwards and stuck her tounge out at Faye, "EDWARD IS A LADY!" she hissed.
"Um, excuse me for a few minutes... I'm going to go try and find a bathroom on this ship..." Paris got up, and hastily left the room. She had been dying to go for a while, but didn't want to go to the hassle of finding the toilet.
*********************
Paris trotted back into the room, realising she had been gone quite a while - it WAS an awfuly large ship for people who apparently only just got by as it was. "Sorry, took me a while to find the bathroom..."
Faye sighed, "It's ok. Ed's still pouting under the couch."
"Pouting? Why? Because you said she wasn't a lady?" Paris raised an eyebrow.
Faye kicked under the couch trying to get to Ed, "Get back out here you," she said.
Paris sniggered a little. "Is it always like this? Like, bickering and stuff? And sitting around doing nothing?" Paris stretched her arms above her head, and looked down at her clothes. She realised she hadn't really gotten any new clothes for a while, so the T-shirt which had shrunk had become a baby-T on her. Also, her skirt kept becoming shorter and shorter as the years went on. "Ugh, I think it's about time I got some new clothes - problem is... no money." Paris sighed.
Ed crawled over the back of the couch snarleing "Edward is not pouting. Edward thinks what you are doing is wrong and Edward doesn't like it."
"What am I doing wrong Ed!" Faye cried. "Shopping? Since when is shopping wrong!"
Paris rolled her eyes. "Yeah, not to get off on the wrong foot with you here, Ed, but all we want to do is shop - what's so wrong about THAT?"
"Shop with who's money?" Edward asked as she peered into Faye's eyes.
"I have credit," Faye muttered. "And I won a little at the track today ok." She kept her eyes on her nails. Damn Ed for having a conscience.
"Bad credit," said Ed "and you won money, with Spike's money."
"How come you're so loyal to Spike and not Faye?" Pais asked Ed, curiously.
"We're a team." Faye spat, "Spike can share."
Edward smiled "Sharing is stealing from his room? Jet and Spike did share with you, they split three ways. Ed wishes someone would share with her."
"Well Ed, I was going to share it with you. I was going to take you shopping." Faye finished one hand and started filing the other. "Don't you think you deserve some of Spike's money too?"
Paris rumaged around in her skirt pocket, and produced a little toy horse she picked up at another race track. "Here, Ed, here is something I can share with you!" Paris handed it over, trying to make peace.
Ed blinked and held out her hand. "This is very nice that you share with Edward." her eyes opened wide as she made it gallop about the table. "Edward likes it." she said as she made it gallop back to Paris. "Edward thanks you." She turned back to Faye. "Ed thinks she could deserve money, but Ed doesn't ask. Ed just lives here and eats the food." she said as she rolled across the floor.
"Well, that's true Ed. But no one ever asks if you wanted something from the store, except for computer parts - and that's only because we use you to help us catch bounties." Faye replied. "I think you deserve something nice."
"Well, Ed, don't you ever go bounty hunting yourself?" Paris enquired. "It sounds so exciting, I don't know HOW you could just sit here all day... You deserve better, right?"
Ed looked to Paris "Edward is only 13, and doesn't have her own zip craft," she smiled. "but she can get one." she grinned from ear to ear. "Edward supposes ... that if she were to go shopping, Ed may find it fun."
"You would Ed," Faye said. "Speaking of which, we'll have to get Paris a zip craft after we catch our next bounty." She didn't mention they needed to get Spike's fixed first.
"Oh that'd be great! My very own zip craft! I hear that you can get them quite cheap, if you know where to go." Paris tried to remember where she had seen some cheap crafts, but couldn't.
Ed blinked. "Edward thinks you need to teach her about everything here first." She looked to Faye. "Edward knows Jet would say the same."
"Say, when do I get to meet Spike and Jet? Think they'll like me?" Paris flipped her hair, "How old are they anyway?"
Ed giggled, "Old." she smiled. "Edward says not to try to impress Spike, you won't get anywhere." she said as she watched Ein walk in the door and hopped over to pet him.
Faye shrugged, "They're around. I wouldn't rush into meeting them or anything. They're usually grumpy and complain about everything!"
Paris shifted positions on the chair and began to file her nails again, frowning at them occasionally. "Alright, if you say so... anyway, what kind of grub do you guys got around here?"
"Oh, Jet is making Bell peppers and beef," Faye replied, conviently leaving out the fact that there was never beef in meal.
Paris nodded slowly. "Hmm... never had that before! I'm always willing to try new foods, though, I guess."
"You won't like it" Ed said as she played with the horse and Ein.
Paris blinked, a little disappointed, though still happy she finally belonged somewhere. She shrugged, "Hey I guess anything is fine by me as long as it's food..."
"Hush, Ed," Faye said, "Don't be rude. At least give the girl a chance to try it." Although, Faye knew that Ed was right.
Paris sighed out of boredom - she hated being in one place for too long. "Why don't we hit the stores now?"
Ed smiled and obeyed Faye. She hopped over picked up Ein and set the horse on the table. "Ein is Edward's friend. Can Ein come with Edward?"
"If you put him on a leash!" Faye said. She stood and stretched, "Then let's get going."
Paris lept to her feet "Great! Do you know any good shopping malls around here? I don't want to travel ages to get to some cruddy mall..."
"I wouldn't go shopping in a cruddy mail, Paris," Faye said, annoyed that the girl would think so. "Besides, we need to see what Ed wants first, since this trip is for her. Maybe a new dress for you Ed?"
Ed grabbed Ein's leash. "Ein gets to come with Edward." she smiled, picked him up and followed Faye and Paris.
"Ooh a dress would look so pretty on you, Edward!" Paris chimed in. "I'm sure Faye knows of some good malls, dontcha Faye?"
Ed's face went pale. "Edward doesn't wear dresses."
"I'm teasing Ed," Faye said, as she stepped out the door. "What do you want, serious?"
Ed thought for a second. "Edward doesn't know. Maybe Ein would like something instead. Edward will tell you when she sees it."
The group walked, chatting on and off about various topics until they reached the mall area. Faye ushered the younger girls in, and then stared, starry-eyed at the huge number of stores. "I love shopping."
Paris clasped her hands together, as she checked out all the stores, "Ohh me too! Where to start?!"
Ed set Ein on the ground and attached his leash, "Edward knows that Ein doesn't need this, but others will complain, so Edward must do this. Ed is sorry Ein."
"You don't want him to run off if he sees another dog either Ed," Faye said, as she stopped in front of a clothing store. "Oh wow, look at that top." In the reflection she saw the electronics store. "Well, Ed first right," She said turning around. She had a feeling the girl would want to shop there.
Ed nodded at Faye's comment. "Edward is Ein's friend." She turned around when Faye mentioned 'Ed first' to see what she was talking about. "OHHHHH...." Ed trailed off and then next thing they knew she was running toward the store, dragging Ein right behind her.
Paris blinked as Edward ran past her, at an alarmingly fast speed. "What is it, Ed?" Paris walked over to the store window beside her and peered in.
Faye surpressed a laugh, "This is her reaction and she didn't even want to come at first." She followed Ed into the store.
Ed was oogling the parts they had. "Edward knows what she wants to do." she said looking down to Ein. "Edward will let everyone know how smart Ein really is!"
Faye watched while Ed browsed through the parts. "This is so boring she muttered." This might take forever.
*********************
Vicious put some papers into his desk - papers that talked about hits, who was doing them, and where they were located. He tapped a button on his computer, and continued his search. The Red Dragon thought he'd been spending the day doing their business, but he hadn't. He was looking for someone - and he would find him. He could feel in his heart that person was alive. Plus, he had his hostile take over to plan for.
Julia looked at the slip of paper and then the building. "This is the address." she sighed, "Julia, your out of your mind." she approached the steps and there was a man at the door. "I'm here to see Vicious?"
The man nodded and picked up the phone. "Vicious, there is a woman here to see you" He put down the phone a moment later and smiled, "He said to head up the elevator to the 54th floor. He's the only office on that floor." With that, the man waved him on.
Julia smiled at him, "Thank you," and did just as he told her to. She arrived outside Vicious's office door and knocked a few times, then paused, waiting for an answer.
"Come in," Vicious said softly, closing his computer. He did not want Julia to know who he was searching for.
She opened the door and smiled to him, putting the piece of paper back into her jean jacket's pocket. "Hello." Julia spoke as softly as she had closed the door.
"Julia, it's a pleasent surprise. I didn't expect you to visit so quickly," Vicious said, standing up to greet her. He crossed the room, and gave her a hug. This was better than he expected. He thought he'd have to push her. "How are you?"
"I'm fine" she said to him, not really wrapping her arms around him, but still hugging him back. "So this is your address huh?" she asked looking around. "No bedroom?" she asked jokingly.
"I gave you my work address for now. I don't plan to live in my current housing much longer. I will have something much better soon for you to come and visit... and stay if you like," Vicious replied, leaving one hand drapped at her waist as he pulled back from the hug.
Smiling Julia looked back to Vicious. "I see." she looked around and down to the desk, "What are these plans that you speak of?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Vicious said. Only with Julia could he joke. Only with her could he relax just a little. He made another promise to himself that she would forget about Spike and think only of him no matter what he had to do.
"You could try." she responded smirking. "So what are your plans for the day?" Boy, was she bored, hiding wasn't the answer she had decided. Face your past head-on and you'll make it through.
"I was thinking that later today, when I'm done with all this Red Dragon business, I could take you out to dinner." Vicious replied, leading Julia to one of the seat in front of his desk. He sat down next to her. "If you'd like, of course."
Smiling she paused and looked back to him after she sat down. "Sounds fair." she said "What shall I do till then?" she was thinking out loud.
Vicious pulled out a card. "Go buy yourself a new dress Julia. Something stunning." He slid the card to her along the desk. "I don't care how much it costs. Consider it a gift."
Julia's face showed shock all over it "Are you sure Vicious?" she asked and reluctantly took his card. "I could let you have input, you can pick the color."
"Red Julia. Make it red. A beautiful dark red." Vicious replied. Red, the color of their dragon, was his favorite. He leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek.
Surprisingly for her, his kiss was pleasant. She smiled and rose from the chair. "Red it is."
"I will look forward to seeing you Julia," Vicious replied, standing with her. "I'll walk you out." He opened the door for her and led her to the elevator. "I'm really glad you came by," he said as they waited.
"I am glad as well." she replied with a smile. The elevator bell rang and she stepped inside.
Vicious followed. He would walk her all the way to the front door. "Where shall I pick you up?"
This time Julia slipped him a piece of paper with her home address on it. "There." she said with a smile. she pressed the button and the elevator doors closed.
Vicious tucked the address into his pocket. "I'll be there at seven. Be ready." The elevator came to a halt at the first floor, and Vicious walked Julia to the door. "I'd play hooky and go with you, but I've got to finish this work." He gave her a hug and a smile.
Julia smiled and returned the hug the normal way, not reluctant this time. "I shall see you then." she said with a smile.
"You shall," Vicious said, taking a step back, so that she could leave. She captivated him.
Smiling, Julia turned around and walked out the door and down the steps, placing her hands in her pockets. It was so cold.
*********************
Pu-zi punched in a familiar number into his photophone and waited while it rang. He needed a huge favor, and the only person he could think of for that was Jet. He only hoped his old friend wouldn't mind doing what he asked.
Jet turned away briefly from his prized Bonsai tree to answer the photophone. "Jet here," he muttered while he continued to trim the aged plant.
"Jet, hey, It's Pu-zi. Been awhile since we talked." Pu-zi rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe he should chat a bit before asking. "What's.. uh.. happening with you?"
Jet put down the tiny shears carefully then turned his full attention to the photophone. "Pu-zi! It's been a while. Not much has happened around here, but how are you doing?"
"I'm doing really well actually. I have a new job, out on Calisto. I know, I know, it's a shithole, but the job pays really well. It's only a temporary thing," Pu-zi replied.
"What's there to do out in Calisto?" Jet asked, slightly taken aback. "Not much pays well in that dump, not much that's legal anyway..."
"I know. Most jobs aren't. This one may not be either. I've just been asked to go out there and set up shop - meet with some people. It's long and complicated Jet." Pu-zi didn't want to get into the syndicate talk. He knew Jet didn't like the fact that he worked for one in the past, and that there was a chance he would in the future. "Problem is, there isn't much out there for my daughter."
Jet started to feel that their idle small talk was going somewhere, and he didn't like it. "What are you aiming at? Out with it Pu-zi..."
"Well, I don't want to take my daughter, and frankly, she doesn't want to go. She's already upset with me for taking the job, and she's run away to Estoria. Jet, I worry about her. Can you please go get her and keep her on the Bebop? I will wire you some money to pay for her living expenses."
Jet wasn't all that surprised by the situation, "Well, she is a resourceful girl..." he muttered to himself. "Alright, but try and keep the wire transfer a little... low profile. I don't want Ms. Faye Valentine to know we have any extra Woolongs."
Pu-zi nodded, "I'll send it to your old account. You know the one. I really appreciate this Jet. I think she will too."
Jet smiled, he'd been wanting to see Meifa for a while so this was a convenient turn of events. "Alright, I have to pick up a few crew members, then we'll head out to pick her up."
"Thanks again Jet. I'll wire the money now." Pu-zi said, before signing off.
*********************
Faye rolled her eyes. "Hurry up Ed! Just pick something. I want to shop!" Faye grumbled. It felt like they had been in there for hours.
Paris stepped a few feet into the store, picked up what Ed was looking at, and read the side, "Hear what your dog is really thinking - transfer thoughts into words!" Paris read aloud.
Ed came up to the counter with a box of small parts and wires. "Edward wants this." she said to Faye.
"Whoa, how much is a thing like that?!" Paris cried. It looked pretty high-tech to her.
Ed smiled "After all the calculations Edward says it will be 75 woolongs. See Edward knows how to shop."
"Whatever," Faye grumbled, "I'll just get it," she said, as she commenced paying for the item.
Paris smiled, "Hey maybe it's not as bad as I thought... Do you really think Ein will have anything important to say? I mean, he is just a dog..."
Ed bent down to Ein. "Edward will make sure everyone knows how smart you are." Ed smiled, "Ed thinks Ein is very smart."
"I'm sure you do," Faye muttered. "Let's just go." She handed the now paid for package to Ed. "Rules are, you carry your own bag." Faye led the group to a clothing store, and began grabbing things off the rack. "I want to try this on. And I think this would look lovely on you Paris," she said, handing her the outfit.
"Wow, it's so cool!" Paris grabbed the outfit and held it up against her, "Please could I get this, Faye?! I desperately need some new clothes." She peered down at her own again. "This would look totally cute on me, don't you think?" Paris giggled.
Ed walked along behind them carring her box and towing Ein along. She watched Faye hand outfits to Paris and gave looks accordingly. Paris was going through clothes as well and they weren't any better in Ed's taste.
Just then, Faye's communicator rang.
"Damn it!" Faye said, ignoring it the first time. "Let's go change." she said dragging both girls into the dressing room. She didn't want to be distracted by the phone. She quickly shimmied out of clothing, tossing them on top of phone as she changed.
Ed almost dropped her box when Faye grabbed her. "Edward thinks you should answer your phone." she said as she sat ouside the dressing stall Faye was in. "Edward thinks that if you don't whoever is calling you might get a little angry."
Paris stepped into her own changing room, and tried on one of the outfits she had picked out - it fit her to a T and it made her look much more mature than she did in her tatty old clothes - and she looked a lot more like Faye! She stepped out of the changing room, and did a Supermodels' walk toward the mirror and back again, doing a little twirl at the end. "What do you think?"
Faye pushed off Ed, "Just be quiet ok. You have your toy. Play with Ein while we change." Faye turned to Paris. "That's looks great! What about this!" She turned a circle as well.
Paris eyed Faye up and down and nodded in approval. "Yeah I like it - it really suits you. But why don't you get a matching bracelet? I think it would finish the outfit."
"I think I will." Faye replied, as she changed out of the outfit and into a different one.
Faye's phone rang again, nearly silent under the pile of clothes, but audible and persistant none the less.
Paris also went back into her changing cubicle and tried a couple different outfits on. "Um Faye?" She called through the curtain. "Shouldn't you answer that?"
"Damn it!" Faye said as Ed gave her a pointed look. She picked up the phone. "WHAT!"
"Where are you?" Jet asked, irritated by Faye's tone.
Paris poked her head around the curtain, "Who is it?"
"We're shopping. Uh, Ed and I." Faye said. She'd tell him about Paris when she got back. "What did you need?"
"Shopping?" Jet said with a faint note of alarm in his voice. "With whose money?"
Faye wanted to throw the phone. Everything was always about money. Money this, money that. No one ever cared about her. JUST MONEY. "It's mine Jet. We got something for Ed. She hasn't gotten anything new in awhile. Did you *need* something? Or were you just calling to annoy me?"
"I was calling you because you have five minutes to get back to the Bebop before I leave for Estoria," Jet said angrily.
"Five minutes? You've got to be shitting me." Faye barked. "Fine, we'll be there." She hung up the phone, not bothering with a goodbye. "Paris, let's get these outfits and go or else we'll be stuck here until he gets back."
Paris gathered her pile of clothes in her arms and hurried after Faye, "Sure Faye! I hope they're not too mad at us, back at the ship!"