Hi-Chew (D6, EM)

[Phoebe Wren]

With headphones on to play music, Phoebe returned to the workbench with some new materials and ideas on what to do with that pesky goo-gun. Today she had a blank slate to start over with and she was determined to manage it this time.

Popping her gum, she started the process of cleaning out the gun first to make sure that no old residue would ruin it for her today like it did the day before.

[Axel Ward]

A full day of rest and a lot of drugs had made Axel whole again. He was perhaps looking even a little sharper than usual, showered and shaved, with hair and beard at a slightly more respectable length than usual.

He'd been walking quickly, like a man with a purpose, until he spotted Phoebe at the workbench, her back to him. Axel slowed, his expression neutral.

"Wren." He rumbled. "How's it going?" Axel frowned. Could she even hear him? After a few moments, he moved from behind her to over to the side, waving a hand to get her attention.

[Phoebe Wren]

A part of the headset seemed to give a soft glow, as if to ping her to the approach or sound of Axel, and as he gave her a wave, she slipped it off to give him her attention. Some music could be heard still.

"Axel. Su cuy'gar."

[Axel Ward]

Axel grunted again. "Su cuy'gar, Wren."[/quote] He still had some work to do, but his accent was getting better.

He cleared his throat. "So, hey. I thought I'd just..." He frowned. "What's goin' on?"

[Phoebe Wren]

Her nose wrinkled slightly. It wasn't because of his accent or his presence, but something else...

"Not much, just trying to do some upgrade on this gun. Make it more effective in a fight," she said, giving a gesture to the pressurized gas cartridge that was ready to be adjusted.

[Axel Ward]

"Huh." Axel grunted. He frowned as he considered that.

Finally, he nodded. "Do you think you could show me some of this stuff? I know enough to keep my gear clean... more or less." He winced; he'd spent a long time getting all the blood out of his armor. "I wouldn't mind knowing how to do a little better."

[Phoebe Wren]

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow for a moment, then nodded. "Sure. I'm no expert myself, most of it is trial and error with still many errors happening, but sure."

And while she was no expert on mechanics hersef, Phoebe was well adjusted to taking lead when needed. "Hold this here, and keep it steady for me. I'd rather want to avoid spilling corrosive adhesive on my hand as I adjust the canister."

[Axel Ward]

"Alright." Axel said agreeably. Holding things in placewas something he was good at; he gripped it firmly.

After a moment, he chuckled. "Trial and error with mostly errors, huh? I think I learned most of what I know that way."

[Phoebe Wren]

"I can tell," she retorted with a wry smile. The task was much easier this time with another pair of hands, and she managed to make the nescessary adjustments.

"So what brings you down here so early in the morning, Axel?"


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D6 EM Modding Goo-Gun. Burn 1 mod. Boost from Axel's assistance!: 4eA+1eB+3eD 1 success

[Axel Ward]

Axel snorted, amused. "Something we got in common, huh?" He flashed her a quick smirk, letting her know he could dish it out as well as take it.

He did watch carefully, his dark eyes interested, as she worked.

At the question, Axel shrugged. "Eh, I dunno. Figured I'd find you down here. It's about time for maintenance on some of my gear, knew you'd be able to show me some stuff. That's all." That wasn't all, of course, but he was hardly going to say that.

[Phoebe Wren]

She raised an eyebrow in his direction, snorting briefly. "That's all, huh?" There was a pause indicating she wasn't really buying it.

"Well, both our main weapons is the czerhander, so I guess it's not too far-fetched," Phoebe added after a while, satisified with the upgrade to the goo-gun.

[Axel Ward]

"Yeah?" Axel chuckled. "It seemed good to me." But he didn't elaborate. He wasn't good at apologizing, after all. This was the best he could do.

He nodded. "Guess your mother must've taught you how to use that thing?" Axel half-asked. "Following the Resol'nare and all." He shrugged. "I actually got started with a big length of pipe, myself. Wasn't until I got older that I got my big sword."

[Phoebe Wren]

Phoebe didn't push it out of him either. And besides, she wasn't one to usually hold a grudge for too long either.

Not that the conversation was particularly cheerful. "Mm, it was her sword. But yeah," she breathed deeply, "both of them taught me to fight. With blades, with fists, with blasters. Not that I'm much good with blasters most of the time."

The gum in her mouth was pushed around between her teeth for a few moments. "How did you upgrade from a pipe to a vibrosword? Saved up for it, or...?"

[Axel Ward]

"Yeah, me either." Axel shrugged. "Learned to fight without 'em."

The question made Axel smirk. "Pretty big step, pipe to vibrosword, huh? Actually, it was a gift, kinda. From my first real boss, if you want to call him that." Axel grimaced. "It was a signing bonus. Got plenty of use out of it."

Leaning casually back against the wall, Axel crossed his arms over his chest. "Kriff, he was an ass." He said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "I guess I'm gonna have to go settle the score someday."

[Phoebe Wren]

"Judging by the company I know you've kept, he probably was quite an enormous ass," she snickered and took off her work gloves, tucking them into her back-pocket.

"What kind of score you gonna settle with him though? Or is that too personal to ask?"

[Axel Ward]

"Yeah." Chuckling, Axel shook his head. "He wasn't the worst. But still. Your first scumbag crime boss is special." With bland expression, he raised one fist, thumping it against his chest, over his heart.

He looked at Phoebe, considering for a moment. "No, it's okay. It's no big. Bastard seems to think I still owe him. 'I made you, so I own you.'" Axel's lips pulled back in a snarl, just for a moment, as a surge of anger hit him.

Axel shrugged again, still casually leaning against the wall. "Figured he'd give up sooner or later, but I guess he's not. So I'm gonna have to go kill him. Probably should have done it years ago."

[Phoebe Wren]

She gave him a thoughtful look. "Do you know for certain he's still got it in for you? I mean, if it's about the crew having bounties on their heads it could be any of the others too."

Rose and Riza were mostly a mystery to her still, and it wasn't impossible that Coryn could have something like that til hanging over him.

[Axel Ward]

Axel grimaced. "Yeah, some of them were looking for me special." He snorted. "I'm almost disappointed. He's got henchmen. They're assholes too. Wouldn't have minded seeing them again." He cracked his knuckles significantly.

"It's funny." Axel frowned thoughtfully. "Back when I did bounties, I remember thinking that the guy must've done something to get me after him. Can't remember when I realized that all it takes is pissing off a crime boss. You can be good, and do that."

He chuckled again, half-smiling. "I mean, I'm not. But that's not the point."

[Phoebe Wren]

"Well, yes and no. I mean, there are probably people with bounties on their heads that deserve it too. But sure, I can agree on there might being some unfair bounties floatin' around."

She watched Axel's frown with a thoughtful expression. And how it turned into a half-smile. "You think you deserve the bounty on your head?"

[Axel Ward]

"Sure are." Axel smirked. "But some you can understand. Not surprised Riza's ended up with a bounty on her. Half the time she says something I just wanna..." Axel shook his head, half-grimacing, half-smiling. "Well. She's in the unit, so..." He shrugged.

The question made him frown. "Deserve? I dunno." His arms tightened a little, still crossed over his solid chest. "It's not like having some gangers try to kill me for credits is gonna right any wrongs, or anything like that." The frown deepened. "I do know that when I hunted, I felt pretty good about some of the sorts that I took out."

Another few moments, and he spread his hands. "I dunno. I just do what I do."