NationStates Jolt Archive

"It'll rain tomorrow, I'd bet the farm on it." said a Bruce who was standing outside a pub in the town Davistown, looking out over an open field. Another Bruce stood beside him and looked up into the heavens. "Are sure there's not a whisp of a cloud and it's bloody hot."

Indeed it was the sun beating down on them mercillesly it would of been much saner for them to be indoors. But these Bruce were looking on the pitch for the up coming match with the Empress Midori XI, Though one of them didn't know it.

"Has the sun bleached your brain Bruce? It's going to be hot as Satan's sweatpants tomorrow."

"Don't you know Bruce, we're hosting a game of rugby with some sheilas from New Kirisubo, from some place called the Empress Midori."

"We're hosting a game of Rugby, here? Damnit Bruce why didn't anyone tell me?"

"No idea, Bruce, but you get now why I said it'll rain?"

"Oh, yes,, *laughing* I get it now... We're having a major event and so of course.. hahahahah"

The two of them were only laughing at a joke that had been embedded in S&B culture. It only seemed to rain when there was some kind of major local event and even then it poored down like nobodies business. Though to be honest neither of them really expected it to rain tomorrow.

Four winged shuttlecraft were touching down just outside Davistown. On board were 20 players, a sickbay nurse and the head of ships security Samurai-Lt Sayuri Hondo. One of the players was Lt Commander Hoshiko Sato.

Having been warned about the heat which they liked since they came from a pair of tropical homeworlds they were dressed in light strappy tops of various colours, black shorts, baseball caps of various colours and sandals. They were also issued with enough local currency for the trip having some space credits changed already and they also had strappy handbags as well as a hold-all of clothes essentials and their rugby kit. Their comm badges were also on their tops and the nurse also carried a medical kit slung over a free shoulder.

They also all wore honour blades on their left hips including the head of security. Swords would probally frighten the natives so they had been left behind.

So as the sun beat down they walked into town as the shuttles dusted off. A reservation had been made in the local hotel for them since they could also find out more about their WA friends since this would be a two day trip.

"Oh, Bruce, look over there!" exclaimed one Bruce head nodding in the direction of the approaching team.

"That's them? they sure don't look like any sheilas I've seen."

"Must be... I'll tell Sheila they're here."

Instead of actually walking inside the pub he ducked his head in and yelled "Hey, Sheila they're here."

He returned and started to engage his companion in a discussion about the field, meanwhile Sheila, the one that had been part of the UN delegation (OOC: Despite the recent change we'd still call it the UN). Exiting the pub Sheila smiled as she shaded her eyes from the sun looking out over at the approaching team, looking for Hoshiko.

Hoshiko was there alright and when she seen Shez she waved back cheerfully.

She was also in effective charge of the away team as she smiled broadly leaving her team mates and moving quickly caught up with her friend.

Sheila had a smile on her face... "Hey, thanks for coming Hosh!" there "Come in, I'll introduce you to some people and show you around a bit."

The inside of the pub, was very wooden, from the tables and chairs made from some white box eucalypti, to the walls and floor made from some equally hard yet different woods. The place was perhaps not that properly constructed, there were a few things that an engineer would just shake their head at. But it was sturdy and it housed a pub.

There was a certain something in the air, or was it just the rustic charm of the place, but to the Bruces and Sheilas that made this pub their watering hole. Inside there were a number of people numbering about 10 scattered through the large building. From what the Neo Kirisubans(?) saw on their way, the Bruces had plenty of land it just wasn't that productive.

"Here's Bruce & Sheila, Bruce & Sheila, Bruce, Bruce, Sheila, Bruce & Sheila, Sheila" Each of them gave hosh a different expression of welcome. One raised their hand to head height and opened up the middle and index finger, another just gave Hosh a head tilt while others gave her a "hey". Momentarily interupting the conversations or whatever they were doing to say welcome in their own way.

"Okay here's the BarBruce... He run's this place... Takes a lot of pride in it." she points to the man behind the bar. "The match will start around 5 or 6. Otherwise it'll just be too hot to play. It won't get dark till around 8 so we've got plenty of time. Your rooms are up the stairs on the far corner over there, but I should check on something. I'll leave you in Bruce's capable hands." With that as busy as ever she went out of the pub, with things to attend to.

The BarBruce was up at the bar, "You'd be Hosh right? Welcome to the Free Lands. Yeah, just go up the stairs and get your girls settled in, the keys are in the door. Some of them may be a bit fidgety but they'll open eventually. Is there anything you want to know before getting started?"

"I'll see you later Shez" Hoshiko called out as she asked the BarBruce "whats the arrangements for dining? Do we eat at the bar or do we need to go elsewhere to do that?"

Already the team was heading to their rooms where the girls were sharing. They'd take this chance to get a rest and perhaps a beer before the match began.

They'd emerge later wearing their yellow rugby kits and a tracksuit top even if they had changed early and sampling a pint of the local beer or else looking round town.

"Well, around here what we do is we include the price of a proper meal at night in the cost for the room. Though there's a takeaway joint nearby and a little caf(e) down the street. You can get something to eat there if you want and I can take the cost of meal from the price of your room. So what are you thinking?"

A Bruce that was in their piped up... "You won't find a better roast this side of the Basin!"

Hoshiko considered this briefly and replied "I think we'll have dinner here in that case. Something I look forward too."

Other players were already leaving to explore the town and treating this like shore leave and the game wouldn't be that long away now.

As they would so, they would find most of the store related to farming. Farming Machinery, farming equipment, fences, feed, Stock agents, cattle yards on the edge of town. However there were a few things in town. A Bank, a nice not-so-little knick-knack store, a small tourist information centre that had to be opened up especially for them.

The Cafe that was mentioned was quite basic, in keeping with the general feel and charm of the town. while there were a number of various stores such as needlework and a few other arts/crafts stores, a general store with a reasonably large home brewer kit section, a small library and a small doctor's surgery that doubled as an emergency clinic for the town.

The population of the town seemed fairly small around 1000, but there were still at least 3 pubs in town. As time got closer the population seemed to swell as news of the game spread around... Soon the place was absolutely buzzing with activity. The local pubs, cafe and takeaway would not have been able to handle it if wasn't for most of those bringing their own food and buying a few extra things from the general store.

Soon the area around the field was awash with spectators for the game, Somehow it seemed that at least 3 times more than the population of the entire town converged. Camping and generally socialising and having fun in preperation for the big match.

Two of the team were engineers and they purchased a home brew kit. Brewing sake on board ship was illegal but there was no rules about making your own home brew. Other crew bought some knick-knacks and yet others enjoyed the nice warm day and the chance to stand on solid ground for a chance.

So he kick off time approached and the teams were announced to the crowd that was building.

It was getting a bit cooler as promised as the Kirisubans went onto the pitch first wearing their all yellow kit. The badge on their shirts was a representation of the twin worlds they came from and a rugby ball.

It was also the symbol of the Neo Kirisuban RFU.

Hoshiko Sato was the full back and kicker for today and she'd got a feel of the ball as the team warmed up.

A few minutes later the Sheila team ran onto the field. The jersey's much less forma, infact apart from the fact they were basically a reddy-brown ochre colour. The shirts were obviously clothing that each of them personally owned some colours were stronger than others some had long sleeves others had short some had buttons others were T-shirts or similiar.

As they did so they enthusiastically greeted their opposing players... "Welcome to S&B" they said in variously similiar ways. The match however hadn't started.

Sheila gave a quick smile to Hoshiko as she walked out into the middle of the field she was to referee the match. A whistle dangled around her neck. Long blasts will be the end or start of the halves, a short blast means stop what you are doing there was a penalty or something that needs to be addressed. She basically explained this... before adding one more thing... "One of the things I was organising is that people are going around handing pieces of paper. They have "Home" or "Away" around half will be getting Home and the other half will be getting away. That says what team they'll barrack for."

"Are we ready? the Neo Kirisuboeans have the kick off."

The Neo Kirisuban Captain was a botanist. Lt Jun Otsuku shook her opposite numbers hand as the teams got to meet and greet each other.

Then it was time for red to play yellow as Hoshiko kicked the ball of from it tee. The game was on as the short tactical kick sailed into the air and the N-K backs chased it.

The crowd was quite vocal in support for their "choosen" team, the atmosphere was quite electric... they didn't need any fancy stadiums or "facilities" just a good flat park with a pub next to it and there was everything that a Sheila or Bruce could want.

As for the game one of the Sheila's forwards the loose-head front-rower caught the ball went charging into the approaching backs and any Neo Kirisubo forwards that came with them, behind her was a wall of Back coming up in a line and a number of forwards to power-play and deal with any tackles or rucks and mauls.

On the side-line a lone voice shouted out "Go Hosh" but it was very possible that with all the surrounding din and the activity of the game that it would simply get lost in amungst all the other noise.

The game settled down with home team showing more teamwork than the Neo Kirisubans did.

Although the space faring visitors did play the game this scratch team didn't know each other too well.

Hoshiko and her opposite number traded penalties initially but the home team was leading 21 - 9 at half time.

The Sheilas scored two tries and they looked like they had a good grip on the game. The visitors weren't out of the game yet although.

As half-time hit it was time for a small break for the players of Both teams. The local pub shouted a beer for each of the players of both teams as well as for any others from the Empress Midori that were there... In other non-Brucian terminology, they got the beers for free.

As they looked around the smell of meat barbaqueing, steaks, sausages, onion, as well as chicken and prawns(once again for non-Brucians, shrimps). Families large and small were all gathered around. Husbands and wives with 2 or more children. In amungst them there were a group of older bachelors, and on the other side of the pitch there was an older spinster group about the same size.

Everyone was seemingly having fun, a smile was plastered over everyone's face. They were enjoying the specticle the fact that the home team was winning didn't seem to matter. Some of the girls from Neo Kirisubo actually received a "pat on the back" congratulating them for keeping up with the obviously much higher skilled Sheila team. Though the 'pat's perhaps were closer to slaps, but it was obvious that there was no harm intended.

However soon enough the half-time break was over and the game started in earnest again.

The quick beer was appreciated by the visiting team and after the Sheila's kicked off it was game on again.

Ensign Tanaka from Engineering scored a try in the corner after blitzing down the wing but Hoshiko missed the conversion.

Yet the Sheila's scored another try forcing over at close range and Hoshiko and the opposite number kept matching kicking scores.

When Sheila blew for full time the gap had maintained and the home team had won. The vistor's hadn't been disgraced and had given a good display.

As the game ended, the applause and raucous cheers for both teams... Shouts of "Good on ya's" and those that Hoshiko and others from the Empress Midori went past on their way off the stadium slapped them on their back... "great show, that!"

If there was anything that the people of Shielas and Bruces knew, and appreciated it was battling against the odds, The so called under-dog. So while they lost the match. The Empress crew won the respect of those that attended, their tenacity and the fact they scored despite overwhelming odds. There was something very Brucian about those girls.

After the match the pub was absolutely packed those that couldn't fit or didn't like being in confined spaces were out on the Verandah, even more were camping out around the field that was peviously the pitch for their game. Outside the air started to get a bit of a chill as the temperature plummetted.

The sky was perfectly clear the stars shone brightly, the milky way clearly visible outside as the Southern Cross dominated the sky. You could see hundreds of sattelites perhaps even more streak across the sky. There were a few lights outside but they were sparse and the light output of Davidson was practically nothing compared to towns or cities of similiar sizes elsewhere.

Somewhere inside the pub Sheila, the WA Delegate made her way through the loud and cheerful crowd trying to find Hoshiko.

The visiting team was now mixing well with the home team as they drank the local beer. They had lost but they'd shown they could play and had gained respect. Already the talk was of a match in Neo Kirisubo for the Sheila team which would be an adventure in itself.

They'd changed into strappy tops and skirts after the game and while it was cold outside they were used to that coming from tropical homeworlds. They could show they were women as well as rugby players as they relaxed in casual gear.

Hoshiko was easily spotted as she chatted over beers with the Davistown kicker who had matched her all the way.

"Hey Shez" she called over happy to see her friend and starting to feel relaxed after her third beer.

"Ah, there you are Hosh! hey, Bruce mind if I..." Sheila spoke before Bruce interrupted with his response to the question before she even managed to ask it.'

"Yeah, no worries, Sheila, mate." He raised his glass in a type of salute before some other friends to talk to.

Hosh, this Bruice, the minister for Sport and Rec... uh, Bruce... where are you, BRUCE!" she had to yell that last word before a few seconds later the Bruce she was talking about extended his hand to Hoshiko "It's Hosh, right? Welcome to the Free Lands, great hard fought game it was wonderful."

Should she take his hand to shake it, he would squeeze his hand in the shake, he had obviously quite powerful hand muscles.

"It is Hosh and I'm pleased to meet you" Hoshiko replied to the minister accepting his handshake and feeling her slender hand getting quite a firm shake.

"Our ladies did well for their first game together. In civilian life they'd have played for completely different amateur teams" she also added.

"They sure did, they made quite a good game out of it... oh.. before I forget. Hosh Told me about the tour you gave her, on the Empress. Sheila has been running around non-stop organising this, would you like a tour of our country? You and all the team. So what do you say?"

"I'd have to check with my Captan first but how long do you think it would take Minister?" Hoshiko asked curiously.

Cultural relations were their job but this was originally a two day trip.

"A few days.... eight or so" the Bruce spoke as he pondered... "Yeah, 8 or 9 days. You might need to get some more clothes if you were planning to be here for only 2... Your guys probably would of found a number of decent clothing stores if you need... Do you have some Bob?"

"I won't need long to contact my ship Minister" Hoshiko replied and touched her comm badge.

It chirped into life and she spoke in her own melodic language to her Captain. After a few sentences in Kirisuban permission was given and more local currency would be sent down.

"My Captain had agreed" Hoshiko replied with a smile on her face. "It looks like we'll be your guests then."

"That's great Hosh!" Sheila was excited and almost jumped..

"We got to get an early start tomorrow we need to be gone around 6... so we'll say that girls need to get up around 5:30 to get dressed get the final things ready and get their stuff on the Bus."

"You showed me around your home, now I get to show you around mine!" Sheila side a wide grin plastered on her face.

"I'll get my crew ready for an early start then" Hoshiko replied seeing the broad grin on Sheila's face.

"I have the feeling this will be the best shore leave they've ever had" she added with a broad smile on her face.

Seeing them knock back the beer with the other Sheila's she thought it might be a rough start to the next day for her girls.

The pub seemed to split in to, the Kirisuboan's where hanging around with the sheilas while about 10 or 20 Bruces where elsewhere not being able to properly mingle with the group of girls.

The Sheilas would be up for a drink and general chatting for as long as the lasses from the Empress Midori were.

The next morning... there was a rumble as a large rusty old looking Bus pulled up the air brakes squeeked out their air and the doors opened. Attached to the back of the bus via a ball and socket was a covered trailer. Inside there was plenty of room for everyone's luggage as well as some camping equipment... just in case.

Somehow despite having drunk copious amounts of beer last night Sheila was their bright eyed and busy-tailed.

The Neo Kirisuban's left the hotel wearing strappy tops with some wearing shorts and some skirts. Their holdalls were dropped into the trailer one at a time as they entered the bus in varying states of hungoverness.

Yet others were clear headed as the slightly tired looking Hoshiko counted her team on the bus. Nobody had gone missing but she was sure there'd been more than just mingling with the local shielas and bruces the previous night after the game.

Remembering the time they had to go looking for a few women after shore leave in the Federal Union during a scientific conference and found in a mans bed nothing would surprise her on this trip.

"Hey Shez" she said adding "everybodies on board so we can go when you're ready."

Sheila didn't know of any "mingling" that had occured but that didn't mean their wasn't drunk people can after get upto all sorts of mischief.

"Good let's go then Hosh."

Sheila boarded the Bus and took an empty seat, she waited until Hoshiko was on and then... "Alright, Bruce we're right to go." The only response from him was the struggling of the engine to start. It was cold after all but after a few tense moments they were off.

About 20 minutes into the trip the sun started to rise. The air started to get light, and the golden disk of the sun emerged on the horizon in a spectacular manner. The terrain was just flat with some spinifex grass clumps and a few small trees. You could almost see forever on this barren ... but also terrifyingly beautiful landscape.

*bump*

Hoshiko sat beside Shez as the journey through the barren landscape continued.

"The only place I've seen beauty like this in on another world" she commented seeing the Mars like landscape unrolling as her girls either slept or chatted on their own language.

Hoshiko sat beside Shez as the journey through the barren landscape continued.

"The only place I've seen beauty like this in on another world" she commented seeing the Mars like landscape unrolling as her girls either slept or chatted on their own language.
Another hour and a half into the Journey in the distance a large rock loomed in the distance. They a fair way away from it but they seemed to be heading right for it, the road being straight and flat

Hoshiko was glad it was cool this morning even although she was used to a constant tropical temperature back home.

Seeing they were headed for this huge rock she asked Shez "whats that?" sounding very curious.

"That's one of the great wonders out here that rarely no-one gets to see, and it's also our lunch stop."

Talking about Lunch at 8 o' clock in the morning? The Bus would travel for another 3 hours, it was hard to gauge it's speed but fully loaded you wouldn't think it was going anywhere near anything that could be called fast. Until they arrived at the massive rock that just sat above the ground that looked almost as if it was placed there.

2 Bruces, these were unlike yet very similiar to the Bruces that they'd met in the pub. These 2 were black, but in other respects seemed exactly the same.

"Bruce, Bruce, How ya going."

"Good, Shez, nice to see you 'gain mate."

They reached out and hugged each other before they entered the Bus and were introdiced.

"Hi, This here is Bruce, and I'm Bruce and Welcome to Cummonhavabeer"

At 11 o'clock the sun was just as hot as it was the other day... "I've hope you got your suncream on."

It was already in the low 30 degree's celcius and still rising.

Hoshiko had made sure her crew was issued with sun cream the night before. They now also had local headgear on to shield them further and last minute top ups of suncream would be needed before they could all leave for 'lunch'.

Hoshiko was ready to greet their hosts and gave the black bruces a bow.

"I thank you for the welcome. I the bar inside the rock?" she also asked.

The Bruces just burst out in laughter... "Haha... That's a good one... "

"Nah, can you just imagine trying to hollow that out? It's as hard as a rock..." they looked at each other again then burst out laughing again. "We should probably tell her about the drop bears..." they continued laughing as they wondered off to an area about 100m away.

"No, the pub isn't in there but, it is a bit different."

The heat was now upto 45 degrees, the air was hot and there was plenty of liquid refreshment on board to replace evaporation.

"Come on, in where it's cool." Sheila got out of the Bus and walked to where the Bruces went, they were now nowhere to be seen.

"Shez" Hoshiko called after her friend as her colleagues were also getting of the bus.

It wasn't as stupid a suggestion as it sounded having the bar inside the rock since it would have at least been a cooler place to sit.

Still she followed her and the black bruces trusting them.

The basic concept was quite sound, however not in the rock... Sheila and the Black Bruces lead Hoshiko and the others into an underground pub.

"Welcome to Uluru, a whole town is underground in the shadow of the Rock." one the Black Bruces said, the pub was about a mix half-half of white and black, Shielas and Bruces.

"The Rock would be far too hard to practically do anything out here, also the Rock is a major landmark and has major spiritual significance in the dreaming, but you've got good instincts. Here have a drink on me."

The Black bruce turned to the Barman raised his right index finger and then used his thumb on that hand to point over his shoulder back at Hosh. The barman nodded then raised his eyebrows back at the black Bruce. Who nodded in return.

Soon 2 Beer Mugs full of a slighly stronger brew than the one at Davistown were placed on the counter. One of them was taken by the Black Bruce. "Cheers!" before he started drinking.

"Arigato" Kimiko replied sipping at her beer. The underground bar felt very cooling after the bus journey.

Hearing that the rock was a spiritual place she was curious although.

"So how does the dreaming work?" she gently asked figuring they locals must have beliefs similar to Shinto with the talk of spirits.

By now the rest of the team had followed her and the Neo Kirisubans added their own contrast to the bar. Now the asian race was represented.

"The Dreaming is our ancient tradition, it tells the stories how things came to be the way they are." A black Sheila spoke up, "It's out of time, where beings could change form animals to humans, to the very stars themselves that shine and look down upon us. These are all are part of us. Where laws and things became as they now are."

Kimiko nodded listening carefully as more Neo kirisuban's got their own beers and a bite of lunch.

"It sounds a little bit like shinto on my worlds. We believe spirits are everywhere on our worlds and especially in nature" she replied giving the black sheila a soft look.

"We are their descendents, the children born from the eighth sister of the Plaides, we are one with the animals and the land, we don't own it, we are apart of it."

"Speaking of that, are you girls going to be coming to Church tomorrow?" There was a calendar hanging on the wall of this pub there wasn't in the other one, and it was currently Saturday, Sunday tommorrow was apparently church. The dreamtime and christianity seemingly finding a place for each other in one general society.

"Why not but very few people follow Christianity on my worlds. In this team theres only Ensign Kitisawa who does" Kimiko replied taking another drink of her cold beer.

It was definately a minority religion with the comments from the Pope of Valtican City stirring up a hornets nest back home as well as on Earth. Comments that would make more people converting less likely.

"Oh, it's basically the only religion here, even most of the black Bruces follow it, though some still hold on their ancient traditions." she reflected for a moment, before Bruce interrupted her pattern of her thoughts. "And too right they should."

"So, yeah, 9 o'clock it's held in the chapel." She pointed down a corridor in the dirt. "Down there and 2nd on the left."

"We'll be there" Kimiko replied sipping more of her beer. With it looking like they'd be staying overnight here she pondered what this stop would bring to them.

A word or two with the Christian crew member wouldn't go amiss either.

Many of the Sheilas and Bruces, both black and white stayed up chatting and talking though, this was a much earlier than last night. Everyone had seemed to go home to bed by 10:30.

They were free to stay up but the Bar Bruce had also gone to sleep so there was no beer, nor any locals, however they did not necessarily have to go sleep themselves.

'When in Rome' is a well tried motto wherever you go and after wringing as much information out of Ensign Kitigawa as she could over drinks Kimiko felt kind of prepared.

The Ensign was a Catholic but the Neo-Kirisuban church had no ties with Earth. Hence masses were in Kirisuban and they were slightly more evangelical.

So the girls went to bed as well since they were sharing rooms in the hotel and as the sunlight hit Kimiko the next morning she groaned. Now it was Sunday and thankfully her head wasn't sore.

But the clock was ticking and it was time to put on on their Sunday best as she briefed her team at breakfast.

Hence the red kimono's every crew member was issued with came out since it was a formal occassion.

Ensign Maria Kitigawa was also wearing a small cross round her neck as Kimiko led her people to church.

9:30 was the slated starting time, and as the Kirisubans entered they'd find a relatively large chapel with very little ornamentation, the hard wood pews had foam cushions that spread across the full length. The service didn't start strickly at 9:30 it infact started 12 minutes later, however within that 12 minutes the chapel was flooded with men, woman and children.

The entire settlement seemed to be there for church all in relatively "good" clothes. Not that they had suits but they were indeed in better condition and you could tell an effort was made.

The services with basically no formality, there was someone out the front who gave some songs for everyone to sing, and a welcome to the Kirisubans that were there.

After the songs, the Bruce stepped down into the congregation, there was an unannounced mini-prayer done in a very simple and quick manner 'the breaking of bread', that would be an equivalent to "Holy Communion" for the Catholic in the crew. However instead of wine, there was beer instead.

Afterwards another Bruce took the makeshift pulpit and read from the bible... well the Sheilas and Bruces edition. This was a reading from Proverbs chapter 12, verses 1 to 20.


You wanna end up smart? Then learn to love being set right when you're wrong; but if you hate being told "You got that wrong!" you'll stay dumb.
God wants you to be a good bloke, but if you get all devious and snaky God will write you off.
Bad blokes are always on shaky ground; but a bloke who aims at doing the right thing is as solid as a tree with deep roots.
A good wife is a bloke's pride and joy; the opposite is like having a bone-deep disease!
A good bloke always watches what he thinks; but a bad bloke will always be scheming how to stab you in the back.
Bad blokes use words to trip you and trap you; but honest words can be a real life saver.
Bad blokes end up falling in a heap while good blokes stand their ground.
Everyone respects common sense; but no one likes warped thinking.
Better to be a humble hard worker than a celebrity with a towering ego and nothing for lunch!
Good blokes will look after their dogs and livestock; but bad blokes couldn't give a toss.
If you wanna eat - then work hard; only a dill loafs away the day!
The greedy want everything for themselves; but good blokes help each other out.
Liars get tangled up in their own lies; it's honesty that gets blokes out of trouble.
Speaking gently and truthfully will do you good; just like working hard with your hands.
A drongo is always impressed with himself - he suffers from delusions of adequacy! But a bloke who listens to wise advice is wise!
A real goose will lose his temper at the drop of a hat; but a smart bloke will hear the insult and just let it through to the keeper.
A bloke who speaks truth does good; but watch out-there are heaps out there who'll lie and deceive.
Some blokes have have got a tongue like a razor blade-it'll cut ya to pieces. But sensible blokes say things that help instead of hurting.
Stick to the gospel truth and you're on solid ground , but start telling porkies and you're gone a million.
A bloke with a sneaky mind is lower than a snake's belly, but a bloke who's straight and above board is gonna be okay.


After the reading, there wasn't much more left to do he steped down, but before he did he announced that the local "SA" had organised a morning tea and everyone was welcome to stay.

There was a flurry of activities as a variety of biscust, slices and scones, lots of scones. appeared on trestle tables. Urns would provide tea, coffee, milk and sugar.

OOC: Thanks to "More Aussie Bible" by Kel Richards for the Brucification of that passage.

Maria Kitigawa found the informality quite refreshing and the welcome warm. The Sheila's Association's tea was welcome as the crew got to know the locals.

It seemed to be a community in harmony with there no racial barriers anymore. Something her own people had long discarded even before they'd left Earth.

Sipping at her tea she moved over to the Bruce who did the reading and already having checked it against her own bible.

Kimiko could see her people were getting on well with the locals. This had started off as a one of rugby match and now it was a cultural tour with hopefully more games to play.

The Bruce was just finishing up a Vanilla Slice, before taking a sip of his own milky tea to get the crumbs out of his throat before putting it down on a nearby table. He would offer to shake her hand and shake it hard before.

"The Sheilas do a great job with the vanilla slices, you should try one. I'm Bruce and you are?"

"Ensign Maria Kitigawa" she replied accepting the hand adding "this is Lt Commander Hoshiko Sato" since they were together.

Hoshiko reached for a vanilla slice as recommended each woman looking smart in their service kimonos, their rank and department being indicated on their right sleeves. Maria's had pilot wings and a single stripe while Hoshiko's had two full stripes and one broken stripe along with crossed swords in gold.

The rest of the crew were easily chatting away to locals and enjoying a cup of tea.

"Looking quite smart in those dresses, anything I can do you for?"

Maria smiled slightly and said "they're not dresses but a kimono is as good as one. I was curious about the Brucian version of the bible thats all.

It's certainly different to the Kirisuban and English translations I've read and heard."

Kimiko was content to let the Ensign lead the conversation. This wasn't her faith but since there was no state religion as such she hadn't a problem with other beliefs.

"Oh, it's Brucian English, no point in beating around the bush, you have to be a straight shooter, that's part of being fair dinkum. It's basically a one big yarn that God gave to show us the parts of himself that can't be seen, and how to be mates with people. That bit from prov I read, that basically sums up what it means to be fair-dinkum."

By now the Kirisuban's were starting to understand Brucian English and Maria nodded knowing what Bruce meant.

Like herself he believed that ones actions were as just as important if not more so than their words were. The Neo Kirisuban Catholics were closer to the early church than other groups of Catholics were.

"I know what you mean" she said leaving her mission commander to enjoy her vanilla slice.

"Hey, you know why don't you take this, keep your Brucian up." he smiled as he handed Maria a bible. It was all in Brucian, which while the words were in a known language, the construction and the sayings which were littered throughout were far from standard.

"Domo arigato" Maria replied accepting the Brucian bible with a nod of her head.

It slipped neatly into her other kimono sleeve balancing out the small Kirisuban bible she had in the other sleeve.

Meanwhile Kimiko could see her crew mingling well and getting on well with the Sheila's of the ladies association. It seemed no matter what planet you came from a woman usually got on well with another woman.

"If that's 'thank you', you're welcome."

With the Sheilas, they were talking about a wide number of things. They were telling stories of life on the land, as well as sharing recipes.

One of the stories, was that of a young Bruce who worked on a neighbours farm. There was an outdoor dunny* (as all real dunny's are) and as he was using it, he heard a rumble outside. He recognised it as a piece of heavy farming equipment. It was getting closer and closer, he looked out a small crack in the wall and he noticed that there was no driver in, the farmer was trying to chase it down and was yelling but the noise of the tractor basically overpowered his voice.

The Young Bruce had to run out of the Dunny with pant's down around his ankles trying to get out of the way. The dunny was run over and there was Bruce trying to hold his pants up while then chasing the tractor down.

There were many other stories that were humorous and slightly worrying as well, the afternoon tea seemed to thin out, people had started to go home. Sunday afternoon after the 'tea' there was nothing planned and everyone had started to go home. All the shops were closed and it was just some time to sit back, relax and even have some rest.

With everywhere closed it looked like all there was left was their hotel. Uninterupted down time like this was a rarity as after changing into skirts, blouses and bush hats some went for a walk.

Others including Kimiko did what the locals did and she was napping right now until the day cooled off. Even with being used to tropical heat back home this level of heat was something else.

About four o'clock in the after noon, some Bruces and Sheilas of around 20 years old started playing a game, it had to do with a more elongated ball for Rugby and there was a whole lot of kicking involved, this was outside above ground with the great big rock of Uluru looming behind them. There was about 10 of them, 5 on each side. and seemingly no referees nor game officiators of any type.

The day hadn't cooled down yet as the group of three Kirisuban ladies spied the game in the distance.

Naturally curiousity got their attention and they approached the game for now just observing the informal match.

As they got closer, the Bruces where mostly shirtless or at least with a simple singlet and with shorts, the Sheilas had a sort of tank top on.

On the ground there were a number of shirts, some shoes, whatever was easily available on the ground designated posts. The ball was kicked, kicked alot, was punched from one person to another and bounced as they ran.

Soon they started to finish up and went underground to the pub, passing the crew members as they passed, large smiles were plastered on their face as their jovial attitude, a slight nod was they went past was the closest thing that the crew members. They laughed as they descended underground and one them was knocked about in a light hearted manner.

This game was different but a drink wouldn't go amiss anyway.

So getting a beer each from the underground bar the Kirisuban's were able to take of their bush hats and show their looks off. They also wore strappy tops and knee length skirts because of the heat.

They'd ended up close to the players and started to talk even with the highly irregular introduction.

The first question was an obvious one. "What was that game you played?"

They explained the sport giving it a name...

"Bruce's Rules"

It was based upon a form of football most commonly called "Australian Rules" (OOC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aussie_Rules) however alot more informal, a lack of any real adjudicator and impromptu items marking posts, when conflict arrises there is a simple solution, the attacking side calls a side of coin which is flipped, if they called correctly the option with more points is given, if not the option with less points.

Not an insignificant number of beers were drunk by the Bruces and sheilas that played.

The Neo Kirisuban ladies listened intently also drinking a few beers each since they had the night here before another bus picked them up in the morning.

They also found the young sheila's cute with themselves being 18 and 19 themselves. They weren't sure yet how the locals approached lesbians so hadn't crossed that bridge yet just being friendly and getting to know the girls better.

The Sheilas didn't seem to have any idea that the Neo Kirisubans were interested in them in that manner, neither did the Bruces.

They had a good time for an hour, but they had a few things to do at home and needed to get home.

"We've got a big bonfire going tonight, Do you want to come? We'll have plenty of snags and beer."

"We'll get Bruce to pick you up on top at about 7:30... If you're interested of course."

Lt Kaori Ito smiled back and said "we'd love that" and gave the name of their hotel they were staying at.

(( fast fwding slightly ))

The girls were getting ready in the same room helping each other with their makeup and hair. They had noticed it was getting cooler so had added light red jackets with their starship insignia on them with the ships name being written in Kirisuban underneath.

They'd all got white strappy tops on now with shorter black skirts and had left their daggers behind.

7.30 was approaching and they looked yummy as well as ready to meet the shielas again.

OOC: Sorry about the delay

IC:

Their lift was about 10 minutes late, it was a type of bus, a small bus almost a van. It took about 12 people about 6 of those already occupied. None of them where the sheilas that they met before but those inside where chatting and laughing.

"You sheilas heading to the Bonfire?" the Bruce diving the "bus" asked as the doors opened

They nodded and cheerfully found seats before the Bruce drove away. Then they talked with the Sheila's as the journey continued hoping to get to know them better.

If there was one thing a Kirisuban did know that was how to talk to a woman. Something they had plenty of practice in.

There was about a 20 minute drive down the main road out of town before they turned off the road onto a side road, another 10 minutes or so and they turned onto what looked like a track, it was the entrance into the station where the bonfire was going to be, and it was still going to be another 10 minutes till they arrived.

However for the Sheilas and the two Kirisuban ladies, the time went quickly, the sheilas found them interestingly different and yet the same in so many ways. A mix which resulted in the Bruces there being somewhat annoyed at being left out.

Though one enterprising one Bruce did try to enter the conversation, and it was upto how the kirisubans reacted as to what would happen.

He would find that Kirisubans didn't ignore men and he got a fair hearing. Coming from a female dominated society meant they were more comfortable round women but could deal with men easily enough.

Some of the Shiela's would find a bit of light girl to girl flirting going on since again being at least bi-sexual was normal for them. Girl to boy flirting would probally make the Bruce feel like he was in heaven as the journey continued.

They arrived at the destination at perhaps the most perfect time, the bonfire was just getting properly started, and already a significant amount of heat and light was already being outputted.

The sheilas that invited them where standing a bit off talking amung themselves as even, it seems that those in the Bus and the two Sheila's were the only ones that where there or would be coming.

Of course there was a number of 'eskies' beer inside and a smaller cooking fire with some sausages and some onion being readied to start cooking.

"The Snag's are here." one of the Sheilas commented to the other before they saw the kirisubans.

"Hey, thanks for coming. Wanna Sausage Sanger?"

Kirisubans ate meat on a regular basis so they'd no problems with sausages.

"Sure. Thank you" Ensign Nagisa Shimura replied in her accented but perfect English. She was glad she still had her jacket with her since it was cooling down. She also seen her crewmates trying to pair off with a sheila each. Usually the first step in trying to flirt with them as well.