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[nostalgiabomb]

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ The bounty, as it turns out, was substantial enough that he didn't feel like a total goober for offering the guy a ride. So with his pockets a few units heavier, he returns back to the ship. The others had contacted him, let him know they were headed back, so-- he warned them. "We've got a hitchhiker. He probably won't kill us all."

"... That's not reassuring, Quill."

They stopped complaining when he told them how much the dude had offered. (A small white lie, granted, but in a way, the guy did give Peter the bounty, so it works out.) When he returns to the ship, finally, he's surprised to see that the musician hadn't just made his way on board when the others came back, but-- well. Drax and Groot are pretty intimidating on their own, even without knowing how deadly Gamora is or how seriously twisted Rocket is. So probably for the best that Peter's there to provide a buffer.

But then there are cops and shooting and what the fuck is a Hornfreak? Is that this guy's outlaw name? Wow. But it's too late to start asking questions, because Peter's guilty by association, and he grabs the musician by his white lapels, shoves him ahead of himself through the Milano's bay doors. He starts shouting as soon as he slams the button to shut the doors behind them. ]

Rocket! Gamora! Get us moving! Drax, Groot-- watch the doors! [ It's a testament to their lifestyle that when one of them starts shouting like that, they know that something's gone wrong. And if something's gone wrong, the local law enforcement is involved. And none of them like jail, so they hop to it. The Milano roars to life while the sheriffs are pounding on the hull of the ship and shouting. A few moments later, they lift off, and with the threat of someone busting into the ship gone, Peter crowds into Midvalley's space. ]

You. Start talkin'.

[saxual]

[ Midvalley takes a step backwards, back pressing against the wall, hands up ]

What the hell do you even wanna know? You pretty much figured it out already.

[nostalgiabomb]

I figured maybe you got in over your head on a few bounties. Clear enough that's happened to me. Maybe you killed the wrong dude, got the cops pissed, whatever. Shit happens.

What doesn't add up is why a bartender is shittin' himself one second, and yet he still has mind enough to bring the sherrifs down on your head -- or why they decided to shoot first, ask questions later. Just what kinda baggage are we dealin' with, here, Hornfreak?

[saxual]

[ He's got half a mind to tell this guy to back the fuck off, but this is his ship and these are his friends. That would be a stupid-ass move. ]

It's baggage that isn't gonna mean shit once we get off this goddamn planet, all right?

I used to run with a team of assassins. We were put together by some freak of nature who wanted us to take out his brother. Things got bad- real bad, catastrophic, end of the world bad- and I'm pretty sure I'm the last 'Gun standing.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ It's not like Peter can call him on it, really. He's got the galaxy's best assassin sitting in the pilot's chair. Two wanted bounty hunters setting up shop in his cargo hold. A murderer sharpening knives in the kitchen.

So "team of assassins" isn't as scary as it should be. That the guy claims he's not wanted anywhere else is another plus, so some of Peter's anger drains away to frustration. ]

You're absolutely sure you're not wanted anywhere else? We're not gonna have to dodge cops until we drop you off?

[saxual]

Positive. The planet was totally isolated until recently- no space travel, no contact, nothing- which means isolated incidents. My bounty begins and ends on [ Gunsmoke No Man's Land Gunsmoke God fucking dammit Nightow fine I'll play your game ] No Man's Land.

fuck i laughed

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He fixes Midvalley with another long stare, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed. ]

So you were an assassin on No Man's Land. What about now? What's your plan?

<3

[saxual]

If I'm being totally honest, I don't have one. But anywhere's better than there.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter's silent for a long moment, just watching him-- before he lets out a long breath. He's clearly still frustrated, but he's not as pissed as he was just a moment ago. ]

Alright, then. [ He gestures with a wave toward the narrow hallway to the side. ] Get yourself settled in the empty room. That'll be your bunk. I've gotta explain what the hell that was about to the others.

[saxual]

[ It's at that point that Midvalley finally steps away from the wall, letting out a small sign of relief. ]

Thanks. [ he nearly turns to go, but he pauses ] Name's Midvalley, by the way.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He pauses at the introduction, as well, and nods in return. ] Peter Quill. I'll introduce you to the rest of the guys as long as they don't tear my head off.

[ With that he heads up to the cockpit to explain the situation to Rocket and Gamora -- and thank God they're together, so he doesn't have to deal with having this argument twice. ]

[saxual]

[ "Peter Quill". What a surprisingly normal name. He half expected people from other planets to have bizarre spaceman names, whatever that meant.

Still, he heads to the empty room as directed, stowing his meager belongings. It's hard to make out most of it, thanks to the buzzing of the ship's systems, but he leans against the doorframe head tilted just so, to see if he can make out bits of the conversation taking place in the cockpit. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The conversation is mostly a lot of outraged yelling, though it may be indistinct, and eventually Drax and Groot crowd into the space to find out just what everyone's pissed about.

And then Peter makes the very salient point that the five of them aren't exactly angels themselves, that they all had a chance to figure their shit out, so why would this guy be any different? (Sure, Peter is having second thoughts about letting this guy aboard, and while he might not believe 100% the shit he's saying, he realizes it'd be shitty of them to decide that a former criminal shouldn't get the chance to get the hell out of that life.)

Eventually they all begrudgingly agree to let the guy stay at least until their next stop for fuel; in the meanwhile, they'll all keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't try to liquefy their brains with his sax. (Oh, by the way, that's a thing he can do. Groot's probably safe, though. Rocket adds, Drax, too, to Gamora and Peter's reluctant snickers. Drax just assumes he means he is stronger than the musician's tricks and seems pleased.)

It's several minutes later before Peter shows up in the doorway of Midvalley's room, knocking on the frame. He pulls a hand through his hair. ]

So, uh. I'm pretty sure I convinced 'em not to jump you in your sleep and chuck you out the airlock.

[saxual]

[ From what he can gather, it's going about how he expected, given all that's happened. As long as they agree he can hitch a ride, he doesn't really care. He's not here to make friends, just to put as much distance between him and Gunsmoke No Man's Land as possible.

So by the time Peter makes his way back down, Midvalley's lounging on his bunk, idly whistling a little tune as he stares at the ceiling. ]

That's good to hear. I'll do my best to stay out of the way in case anybody changes their mind.

Interesting group of buddies you got.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter laughs at that. ]

Yeah, you've got a real gift for understatement, dude.

Drax is the big guy. Doesn't wear shirts -- don't let it bother you. The tree is Groot. He's-- not much of a conversationalist. Rocket's the little furry guy. Don't, uh, bring that up. He's just Rocket. And Gamora is the green lady. She knows a at least five hundred different ways to kill you with a pair of tweezers, so try not to piss her off.

[saxual]

Go back for a second-- you have a tree on your team?

[nostalgiabomb]

Uh-- yeah? Didn't you see him? Big, tall dude? Little leaves on his head? Body made of, like, ropey vines?

Don't tell me you missed him.

[saxual]

I saw him. I was trying to figure out what the hell he was.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ It takes a moment, but Peter has a realization. Give the man a prize. ]

Right. Desert planet. You've-- you've seriously never seen a tree before, have you?

[saxual]

Only in books.

And I'm pretty sure even then they didn't walk around and say "I am Groot."

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, like you said -- I've got a pretty interesting group, here. Groot's kind of a special case, though, so don't embarrass yourself and try to chat up any other trees while we're out and about.

[saxual]

Hah. Thanks for the tip.

[ there's a pause, then: ] You got a window around here I can look out of?

[nostalgiabomb]

Best view's up in the flight deck, but--

[ -- it'd probably best to steer the guy clear of Rocket and Gamora till they've calmed down some. He nods to one side, gesturing for Midvalley to follow. ]

-- There's a pretty good porthole in the common area.

[saxual]

[ He gets it. He's got no desire to poke his nose into the room where everyone was yelling at each other a moment ago.

He hauls himself off of his bunk, following after Peter ]

Any view is better than no view. I've never been to space before.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He leads them through the common area, where Groot is sitting beneath a little sunlamp Rocket rigged for him. The Flora colossus offers Midvalley a friendly little wave before he goes back to basking.

At the end of the ship is the porthole Peter mentioned -- more of a window than a proper porthole, but all the better, right? The metal bars reinforcing the window obscure some of the view, but it's still damn nice. The planet is growing smaller behind them. ]

Not leavin' any family behind, are you?