<div align="center"><strong>-=Vincent Kincaid – The Gamble’s docking ramp – Persephone =-</strong></div><br/><em>”It has indeed, Di-di.  Ha!  No, there’s no more work for me for a while.  I am ready for a break.”</em><br/><br/><em>Ah.  So the stranger must be the new hire Griff was talking about.</em>When it came to somebody waiting in close proximity to Lex, it was even odds between being a client for the Companion and being a client for The Gamble as a whole.  Vincent had noticed the way Steve’s eyes wandered over Mae’s figure.  That alone wasn’t enough to send up a warning signal in his mind; given the way she was dressed, any warm blooded male would be unable to resist a long glance at her physique.  The real test would come with the way he addressed her.  Even the man’s external monolog sent mixed messages that was not enough to base anything solid upon.<br/><br/>Vincent smiled a genuine warm smile when Lex embraced Mae in his arms.  Whether it was a result of his training or simply being a part of his personality, the Companion had a virtual aura about him that made it easy to open up to him.  The co-pilot often mused that of all men upon the ship, it had been the one who turned the art of seduction into a livelihood that presented him no threat when it came to the woman of his heart’s desire.  Even when engaging in playful banter, Lex always seemed to know exactly where the line was between lighthearted fun and personal sleight.  As far as Vincent could recall, the man had never once crossed that line in regards to his affection for Mae.  On the contrary, it was Lex’s inherent empathy for those around him that provided Vincent an outlet to vent his pent up thoughts of Ms. Little and Griff’s direct advances towards her.   He had a good notion that Dani would be willing to act as an emotional support in that sense, something that he had utilized on rare occasion when Lex had been absent.  Though, Vincent had not been as candid with Dani when it came to opening up to her as he did with Lex.  Partially because he felt it more pertinent to have a male perspective on things, but also because the ship’s medic had the look that suggested she was weighted down by her own personal demons and he did not feel right sharing his burden with somebody who had their own to worry about.<br/><br/>When Mae introduced herself to Steve, Vincent attentively listened for his response.  It would be fun to have another aboard who would engage the duo in their<strong>pun</strong>ishing exchanges.  His response came off somewhat cold as he answered in the negative then proceeded to dismiss her, causing Mae to do the same.<em>Well… that was terse.  Better than having another Griff aboard though.</em>Vincent watched as the captain pawned the elderly woman on the new guy and smirked.  At first it was because he envisioned Mrs. Sylvester’s reaction had there been<em>two</em>Griffs aboard the ship.  Then it was due to Steve’s remark to her.<em>For somebody who claims to be limited to drunken limericks, he manages self-deprecating humor pretty well. </em><br/><br/>Vincent decided to engage Lex in some casual banter until Steve returned from his errand.  “It’s a shame.  You’re only getting a brief sample of the ship’s new earthy aroma.  It was surprising how affordable it had been to permeate the entire ship with its au naturel bouquet.  Normally you would have to pay an arm and a leg for that organic stuff.  For whatever reason, Griff saw it fit to go back to the standard recirculated air smell.”<br/><br/>Vince glanced to his left then to his right for effect before leaning closer to Lex in a hushed tone.  “ Just between you and me, I was concerned that the ol’ Captain was beginning to adopt hippy doctrine from Earth-That-Was.  I mean, he’s already a borderline nudist.  I’m all for free peace and love, but I don’t get paid enough to go vegan.  Fortunately, Mae and I’ve been given the duty of grocery shopping, so we’ll make sure there is an abundance of protein in the galley that doesn’t come from anything that involves the word ‘curd’ or any other non-animal. ” After a few more moments of conversing with Lex, the new guy had been pacing back up the loading dock and he decided to allow Lex to do as was ordered after a few departing words.  “Well,” he began with a friendly clasp of Lex’s shoulder.  “I would love to stay and catch up with you, but I got a date with a pilot.”  Vincent’s gaze gleamed with delight as he made no effort to hide his excitement from who was practically his older brother.<br/><br/>Vincent watched as his old friend and the new hire traveled into the belly of The Gamble, standing there for a moment having just realized the slight limp to Steve's gait.  In the moments his mind pondered its cause, he became aware of Dani moving in the last direction he expected her to.  Instead of taking the stairwell furthest away from the newcomer that would lead her deeper into the ship, she made her way<strong>out</strong>of the ship.  His brow lifted with surprise at the sight and wondered if he had just witnessed the very moment the medic overcame a debilitating phobia.  It was surprising seeing her leaving the ship, even for the few hundred feet of port between the cargo bay and Mae now casually leaning against some random containers.  So much so that Vince decided it would be best if he didn’t interrupt what he assumed was girl talk.  He waited there on the loading dock for a moment until Dani had said what she wanted to say and retreated back into the safety of the ship at a healthy pace.  Only then did he proceed down the gangway towards the lovely lady who he had hoped was waiting for<em>him</em>.<br/><br/>Mae’s mind seemed to have wandered off as Vincent approached, having just enough self-control over his anticipation to have more walk than skip in his stride.  Whatever she was thinking about, it certainly seemed to make her happy and his smile subconsciously became a reflection of hers.  He had hoped that it had as much to do with the company as much as it did the day of shore leave.  Vincent waited until he stood just barely within what would qualify as her personal space before speaking.  “The way I see it, we have a few hours before the clubs reach their peak hours.  That gives us plenty of time to get everything on the list and toss it in the ship while having a little extra to grab a bite on the way back to town.”  Vincent turned his side to her, offering out his arm by a slight margin if she wished to take it.  “Shall we get to it so we can have the rest of the night to ourselves?”