[Ides]

Blake glanced up from his Primer. So he could either talk to the scum in the uniform or the scum without the uniform. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't. Closing the book, he smiled thinly and leaned back in the chair with arms crossed, ignoring the hand outstretched ahead of him. It really had been too much to hope that the man could take a hint and walk away. Two could play at that game though.

"I'll remember never to ask you if I need a quick answer. Put that away, Carcer," he said, with all the nonchalance he could muster, "you don't know where I've been."

The man's voice was as oiley as the rest of him, with a smile that never reached his eyes. It probably wasn't the wisest thing he could have said, but it seemed that Carcer was determined to get under everyone's skin. With such a generous attitude, what else could Blake do except respond in kind? Well, lots of things, but after three days of running down corridors, maintaining his weapons and doing his best to eat whatever was put in front of him, he was well and truly bored. That and he knew Carcer would just keep coming back regardless of what he said.

"So you are just itching for conversation then?" He was careful to keep his face blank and pleasant. "You're the first person I've met who tried to tak with his hand though."

Technically untrue, but there was no need for Carcer to know that yet. He considered loosening the laspistol at his waist, but decided against it. His lasgun was already slung over one shoulder, and changing his pose now would ruin the moment. He didn't dare switch his gaze to see whether Garvel or that priest with the name he couldn't pronounce were watching. It always seemed to surprise these off-worlders that he was used to talking to people. Emperor forbid that there would be some kind of society where he came from. Deliberately, he cocked his head to one side and looked past Carcer, eyeing up Sebek.

"Besides, it would be impolite to keep this man waiting."

Nodding absently to Carcer, Blake pushed back his chair and walked confidently to the door, careful to keep the table between himself and Carcer as he did so. Sebek wasn't the most physically imposing man that had Blake had seen, but you didn't live long where he came from by taking everything at face value. Pocketing the primer, he wondered why he hadn't dreamt up any questions before leaving Carcer standing there.

"Thank you for your offer," he said, inclining his head to the man, "but I'm fine for the moment. Just curiously, where would we find you in case of an emergency?"

Passing a hand through his shoulder length blond hair, he searched quickly for more questions while he still had the initiative.

"And can you tell me how long you expect this journey to last? Your accomodation is very generous," (a calculated overstatement but no-one had died from being polite), "but starships make me restless, you know how it is."