The airship Hell's Gate wasn't much of a looker, but she held together well. She used to, anyway...<br/>"Damnable canyon winds," a young woman spat bitterly as she wrestled with the already temperamental steering, "There should be a port town near by... There it is," She flashed a quick message to the tower, requesting permission to land. Once clearance was granted, the small cargo ship began to descend into her designated position.<br/>"Aww, you poor babe," the woman crooned to the ship as she assessed the damage, "Don't you worry, I'll get you fixed up in no time."<br/>"Miss, we need you to sign in."<br/>"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill."<br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">J.C Allen</span></span>, she signed quickly.<br/>"So sorry, miss. We must have full names."<br/>The woman sighed heavily, glaring slightly at the page, "Fine."<br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">James Corbut Allen, Jr.</span></span><br/>"Have a bloody nice day," She grumped.<br/>"Wait! Miss! Wait, please!"<br/>"What now?" She snapped.<br/>"Only the captain may sign in, so sorry for the inconven-"<br/>"I<span style="font-style: italic">am</span>the captain, you gammy dimwit!"<br/>The page glanced at the log, then back at her," P-pardon? But... You've signed as a James Corbut-"<br/>"-Allen, Jr. I'm aware of how I signed. That's my name."<br/>"But..."<br/>"See,<span style="font-style: italic">this</span>is why I use the initials," She quipped as she walked away.<br/><span style="color: #FF4080"><span style="font-style: italic">Ugh, why I was named exactly after my grandfather I will never know... I'm only grateful that the abbreviation is widely accepted...</span></span><br/>Jacee Allen. Privateer, runaway, and now, completely stranded in a place that couldn't handle a woman with a man's name. She removed her purple cap and ran a hand through her decidedly unruly pink hair. She'd need parts to repair the damage to her ship, but parts were expensive, and pretty hard to find in places like this. Luckily, parts were the only thing she needed, aside from a good, stiff drink to cool her nerves after the whole signing in fiasco. Jacee jammed the cap back onto her head and stalked off toward an inn that had a reputably strong selection of alcohol. Perhaps she'd be able to gather some information as to where to obtain good parts while she was at it...<br/>"Blood Moon Inn," She read, "Charming name. Wellp, if they've got liquid stress relief I'm all in"<br/>"All in? And what ye be betting, lass?"<br/>Jacee raised an eyebrow at the man who'd spoken, "Depends on what we're playing for," she answered slyly. She had very little coin on her at the moment, but she'd always been fairly lucky and couldn't resist her urge to gamble.<br/>"Jest a bit o coin."<br/>"Eh."<br/>"And these," The main gestured to an egg sized rock, red in color, with a few veins of black running through it, and a tattered scroll.<br/>"No! Dun bet that!"<br/>Jacee snorted, "You're playing for a rock?"<br/>"It's not a rock!" The second man seemed frustrated, as though he'd had to explain this before. Her curiosity piqued, Jacee took a seat at their makeshift table outside the inn.<br/>"What is it then?"<br/>"It's Avalonian."<br/>"Oh, mercy, here we go again..." The first man sighed, "I'm tellin' ye Vorick, it's naught but a pretty stone."<br/>"From Avalon!"<br/>Jacee blinked, "Where again?"<br/>The man called Vorick grinned at her, "Avalon."<br/>Silence reigned for a few moments before Jacee burst out laughing, "Avalon? That old wife's tale? You've gotta be kidding me!"<br/>"It's real, I've seen it! And I plan ta see it again."<br/>"Oh, whatever. Very well, I'll play for your coin and your rock... The map as well, being that it's on the table," Jacee tossed a few coins onto the table.<br/>"It's not jest a rock, it's Avalonian!" Vorick snapped at her.<br/>"Whatever! Are you gonna bet or not?"<br/>~<br/>When all was said and done, the two men barely had two coins between them. Jacee, on the other hand, was sporting a much fuller wallet, a pretty stone, and a supposed map of "Avalon." She figured the stone would fetch a good price, and the map and even better one if she could find someone gullible enough to take the bait.<br/>"Well, gentlemen, it's been a pleasure," She spared them a cocky grin before ducking into the inn for those drinks, though she was in a much better mood now.<br/>"Bloody hell, David, I could kill you for that..."<br/>Jacee chuckled as she slid the door closed behind her and headed up to the bar, "Heya. Got anything that can clear the sinuses? She asked the barmaid, sinking casually onto a stool, the stone balanced carefully on her knee. She had to admit, it was kinda pretty, but<span style="font-style: italic">Avalonian</span>? She scoffed in spite of herself. Legends and rumors were naught but a waste of money.  She preferred things a bit more tangible in nature... Like alcohol and her ship. And money. Sweet, blessed money.