<div align="center"><strong>-= Griffin Kingston, Captain – Streets of Persephone, looking to find a new catalyzer=-</strong></div><br/>His fervent steps were laced with the emotional turmoil that stirred inside the captain of “The Gamble.” The foreign emotions that waged a silent war in his heart and mind drove his feet hurriedly towards his destination.<em>“Liu Kou Shui De Biao Zi He Hou Zi De Er Zi,”</em>he muttered to himself, his fists clenching at his sides as he replayed the scene between Lex and Sasha that he’d witnessed in the cargo bay. His imagination ran rampant as his mind attempted to interpret the subtle looks and touches the two had exchanged before he’d left. “Qiang bao hou-zi de Kai tze,” he growled again, drawing the curious stares of more than a few passersby. Glancing up in the direction of one of them he snarled and snapped, “What are you lookin at? Guan ni ziji de shi!”<br/><br/>He had never had a problem with Lex before. When the companion had first joined with his crew, Griff had made a point to let him know that he had no problems with his profession and wouldn’t interfere with his work should he decide to service clients on his ship. His only rule was that Lex restrict his work and his crafty wiles his cabin or off ship entirely. So far there had been no problems and the two had peacefully coexisted, but it seemed, at least to Griff, that Lex was clearly turning on his practiced charms and convincing Sasha to reciprocate in kind. This didn’t sit well with Griff… at all.<br/><br/>Cutting across the next alley up ahead, Griff arrived at his first stop. The tarnished old neon sign over the large door heralded<strong><em>Cast Offs</em></strong>to passersby. The condition of the sign itself suited the name of the establishment with the flickering neon lights and distinct buzzing sound that hummed through the air with a droning complaint and in desperate need of repair. He paused outside the shop with his hands on his hips as he glanced up at the battered sign with great amusement. The “S” at the end of “offs” hung crooked, leaving one to wonder if it was by design or about to fall to its doom. A deep, but soft chuckle vibrated from his chest as his keen eyes swept the general vicinity. There was something reassuring about the Cast family business that filled him with calm and quieted his unstable emotional state. Thinking of who would be waiting behind those grimy windows brought a wide and peaceful smile to his handsome face. Though they weren’t blood, they might as well be.<br/><br/>Jack Cast (http://popculturezoo.com/wp-content/gallery/leverages3/Leverage_Christian%20Kane_Ph-Gavin%20Bond_19593_001_2192_R_v1.jpg) had fought alongside Griff in the Unification War once Griff had turned on Independence. Younger and with a reckless streak, Jack was impulsive and had a rebellious attitude that often got him into trouble. There had been many a time when Griff had been there to pull his ass out of the fire.  He liked Jack, even though he continuously got himself into jam after jam. After the war ended, when the browncoats had been forced to surrender, it was Jacks turn to help out his friend and Captain, serving as his mechanic for a while, until a replacement could be found. When Griff hired Hayes, Jack returned home to continue his life before the war.<br/><br/>Jack brought Griff home to his family, introducing him to his grandfather and showing him the delights hidden behind the rusted gates of the<strong><em>Cast Offs</em></strong>family business. He had been welcomed into the Cast family as one of their own and could still feel the warmth of the thankful hug from Jack’s mother. They had labeled him a hero, solely responsible for bringing their Jacky home to them in one piece. For that reason alone he would always be welcomed in their home.<br/><br/><hr/><div align="center"><strong>-= Inside Cast Offs =-</strong></div><br/>Shaking the melancholy from his mind, Griff gave another deep chuckle, finally reaching for the door handle. He gave it a quick tug causing the old, solid oak door to creek in loud protest.  The bright daylight washed in behind his impressive physique, flooding the entrance with brilliant light teaming with the sunlit dust storm dancing in a brief display before fading back into obscurity. The place never changed. Parts for anything and everything that could be fixed or rebuilt were stacked in hazardous piles in every corner.<br/><br/>The sound of the door alerted an elderly lady that had taken refuge in the rear office. With shaking hands she placed them on the chairs arms and pushed her pudgy body from the mahogany chair with an audible groan, testing her balance before letting go of the edge of the paper strewed desk before her. “I’m comin’!” she called out, her voice showing the strain of her age as she shuffled across the cluttered room towards the main show room for the family second hand business.<br/><br/>“I got it Granny!” A younger woman (http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x3258408/portrait_of_a_beautiful_young_woman_is385-097.jpg) came jogging around the far wall which was lined with shelves filled with parts. She was a beautiful young woman with hair the color of flames and eyes that looked familiar. Reaching the counter, she looked up at Griff, her eyes filled with recognition as they become noticeably larger. “Oh, my god! Griffin is that you?! Griffin Kingston?!” Her face lit up as her hand shot up to cover her mouth with excitement. “Flashing the woman a warm smile that touched his eyes, Griff nodded, adding quietly, “Hello, Diane. You look amazing.” Running around the counter she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.<br/><br/>“Where have you been, Griffin? You’ve been gone far too long!” Slipping from his neck she kissed his cheek, letting her hands slide down his arm and curling them into his.<br/><br/>"I've been around. Busy. Too busy. Is Jack around?" Griff's tone was soft and warm, almost apologetic for having been away for so long.<br/><br/>Giving his hands a squeeze Diane nodded with beamed a radiant smile before shouting to the back room. “Jack! You’re never gonna guess who just showed up!”<br/><br/>Already Granny had eased herself back into her comfy leather high-back chair, too tired to be bothered with company. Griff heard an old storm door spring squeak open before slamming shut again. A man’s voice was heard, “Janie, give me that before you scare the customers.” The sound of tiny booted footsteps running towards the front counter preceded an adorable little girl in braids. Running up to Diane, the little girl pulled out a toy, plastic gun and pointed it at Griff. “Get your hands off my mommy, mister!” She threatened with an adorable scowl on her face. Griff feigned alarm and pulled his hands from Diane’s putting them in the air. “Please, don’t shoot me!” He said in mock terror.<br/><br/>Just then, Jack came around the corner and froze in his steps as a big smile slowly spread across his face. “Well, I’ll be damned. Griffin Kingston…”<br/><br/>Without breaking character, Griff pointed down at the little girl holding him at gun point and coolly replied, “Jack… Janie’s got a gun.”<br/><br/>Walking over to where Janie stood, Jack knelt down and picked her up. Setting her on the counter top, he took the gun from her hands and stuffed it in his back pocket. “What have I told you about pointing that thing at customers,” he asked in a scolding tone.<br/><br/>“Not to,” she answered with a pout, crossing her arms over her chest.<br/><br/>Jack turned to his friend and wrapped him in a tight, manly hug, both of the slapping each other on the back. “Where the hell have you been, you old dog,” Jack asked as he pulled from the hug.<br/><br/>Diane moved over to Janie and scooped her from the counter into her arms. “Janie, this man saved your daddy’s life a long time ago, before you were born.” The little girl’s expression softened as she looked at Griff.<br/><br/>“Thank you mister, for saving my daddy’s life,” she replied in a rehearsed tone.<br/><br/>Griff smiled and gave Jack another help slap on the back. “You’re welcome, princess. I knew he had to come home and be your daddy.” Hold out his hand to the little girl, he added softly. “My name’s Griffin, but you can just call me Griff if you like.”<br/><br/>The little girl’s smile grew and she nodded. “Okay, Griff,” she said with enthusiasm.<br/><br/>Everyone laughed as they caught up a little bit, Diane equally involved in the conversations. Eventually Diane took Janie and left to tend to other errands that had be taken care of that day. Jack and Griff came back to the topic of business when Jack asked, “So what brings you this way, Griff?”<br/><br/>Slipping the rucksack from his back, he set it on the counter and opened it up. Reaching inside, he grabbed the catalyzer and pulled it out, setting it on the counter for Jack to see. “I’m here for one of these.”<br/><br/>Jack glanced at the part and then back up to Griff. A slow smile slinked into place on Jack’s face and he crossed one arm over his chest, stroking his chin with his other hand. “Ah, you need a carburetor,” Jack asked pointedly.<br/><br/>Griff looked at the part for a long moment and tried to remember what it was called, but no matter how hard he tried, he could recall. Finally, he nodded and plastered on his best smile.<br/><br/>“Griffin Kingston! Carburetors don’t go in spaceships you big lug! I can’t believe you captain your own ship and still can’t tell an ancient car part from a part in your very own ship! Get your ass back here and let’s go find you a part!” Griff joined in with Jack’s laughter as the two of them set off into the bowels of<em>Cast Offs.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/>Liu Kou Shui De Biao Zi He Hou Zi De Er Zi, = Son of a drooling whore and a monkey<br/>Qiang bao hou-zi de Kai tze = monkey raping male companion<br/>Guan ni ziji de shi = mind your own business<br/>