Renala is standing at the bar, having just spoken with Va'ynna who currently is working there. There's a fully packed travel bag by her feet. After about a minute, she gets a glass of beer before moving over to a booth and taking a seet, letting the bag rest by her feet under the table.
#Miner'sRespite – December 10, 2013
Iressa comes stepping down the stairs, casual in attire and alert in demeanor. She scans the floor for familiar faces, skipping the bar and wandering toward Renala's booth. "Hello, Renala." She greets, giving a slight tilt of the head to her luggage, but saying nothing about it.
Renala smiles at the approaching asari, gesturing towards the seat opposite her. "Hey, Iressa," she says. "How's it going?" She's wearing her usual, aside from having her brown leather jacket with the low-end shielding system built in.
Iressa smiles in return and takes the seat across from Renala, settling into the booth. "It's going quite well." She answers simply, "And for you?" Her hands rest on the table in front of her, fiddling occasionally.
Renala sips her drink. "All's well," she says, "I'm going home to see my daughter for the next nine days, just waiting for the shuttle."
Iressa appears almost surprised, but it quickly fades into a genuine smile. "That's wonderful!" She responds, seemingly pleased by the news. "Are you excited to see her?"
Renala nods. "Of course I am," she says with a smile, sounding more cheerful than usual. "We talk a lot over vid calls, but it's been too long since I last saw her in person."
Iressa nods, "This isn't the best place to take your family, I suppose." She laughs, "It's good that you're keeping so in touch. Is... is she staying with her mother?" She asks slowly, unable to recall any details of Renala's daughter.
Renala frowns for a moment, knowing that it's probably not the best thing to dsicuss with a fellow asari. "Yeah," she says. "I'm glad the mother's letting me stay at their place, since things have been tense between us for quite a while."
Iressa 's smile fades a bit, sensing Renala's discomfort. "I see. Either way, I'm sure your daughter will be excited to see you. Do you have any plans for when you're in town?" She asks curiosly, leaning back in her seat.
Renala nods, a slight smile returning. "I'm just going to find someplace nice to eat, I think," she says. "Other than that, I'm just going to take it day by day. I have a few ideas, and I'm sure she has plenty of her own." Renala takes a long sip of her drink.
Iressa nods, matching the asari's expression as she continues to relax in the booth. "I suppose it doesn't matter too much, as long as you're spending time together." She gives a short glance around the bar before giving Renala a slightly concerned look. "I hope I'm not holding you up. When did you say that shuttle arrives?"
Renala chuckles, bobbing her head towards her right hand. "Don't worry about that," she says, shaking her head slgihlty. "I've set the omni-tool to remind me when I should get going."
Steve enters the Respite through the front door in his hardsuit minus the helmet, having been out-and-about all day. His path to the bar takes him right past Renala and Iressa's booth, causing him to stop abruptly. "Hey." he says, "What are you two up to?"
Iressa glances at the omni-tool. "Oh, good. I didn't want to keep you too long." She smiles, turning her attention to Steve as he appears next to the booth. "Hello, Steve." She greets politely, looking to Renala to answer the question how she so chooses.
Renala looks up at Steve, shrugging. "Up to no good, of course," she jokes before bobbing her head towards the side where her bag is resting. "I'm just having a drink before I head off to the spaceport."
Steve follows her head-bob, inspecting the bag for a moment. "Ah... Leaving for Thessia today." he says, nodding to himself, "How long did you say you were going to be gone for?"
Renala nods. "Nine days," she says. "I haven't booked a shuttle back yet, but for now, that's the plan." She sips her beer. "I doubt it'll be any longer than that, though."
Iressa glances between the two, keeping quiet as they converse. She does, however, scoot a little ways over if Steve wants to join them at the booth.
Steve places his hands on the table, palms down, as he remains standing at the end. "Nine whole days without my drinking buddy?" he frowns, "Not sure how I'll get by." He takes Iressa's cue and slides into the booth.
Renala | "Oh... no, I didn't think of that," she says with a moch apologetic look. "Oh, I'm sure you'll manage." She turns her gaze towards Iressa as a smirk forms, "Maybe it's time you learned to drink like a maiden, hm?" Her tone is lighthearted, of course.
Iressa chuckles, "Oh, no." She laughs, waving a hand dismissively. "I've done my fair share, just perhaps not in your company. If I am to do work early in the mornings, I can't be up drinking all night with you two." She smirks, glancing between them. "But if he is to be reduced to drinking alone in your absense, I may have to make a sacrifice."
Steve nods his head, "Thatta girl." he smiles, patting Iressa on the shoulder playfully with a gauntleted hand. "So... I swung by that place earlier to check things out." he says, knocking on the chestplate of his hardsuit, "Thought I should look the part. The lady handlin' things over there doesn't seem particularly friendly. Told me I'd need to 'formally fill out an application' and when I tried to ask a few questions, she told me I could find everything I needed to know on the extranet." He frowns giving a quick shrug, "Not sure if that's the type of person I want to work for."
Renala chuckles at the other asari's answer. "Good. I was worried you've hit matriarch already," she says, jokingly before turning to Steve, listening as he speaks. "That's too bad," she says. "Kinda hoped that'll be my last resort should the IT job be a no-go. And I bet I won't use my creds too sparingly when I'm with Aeyna."
Iressa furrows her brow during their exchange, only ceasing to chuckle lightly at Renala's comment. "I still have a few centuries before I need to worry about that. Have I missed something?" She quickly changes her tone, confused and curious about what Steve was speaking of. "Did you go see about a job in town?" She addresses the question to him.
Steve nods, tapping his fingertips against the table. "Yeah. Freelance agency just starting up. Figured I'd try and get in on the ground floor. It's not exactly the kind of work I'd like to be doing but..." he gives a quick shrug, "Would be nice to do what I know while I try and get my foot in the door somewhere else, ya know?"
Renala frowns. "Probably," she says. "I wish it was as easy finding jobs for what I know best." She picks up her beer and sips it. "I hope they find someone to open the doors if I'm not with you, though."
Steve tilts his head to the side, "Like I said, Ren... Assuming I get the job- that is, if I even bother to apply- I plan on keeping you on call." he says, winking at the asari. "Plus it's nice to know that if I ever get locked out of my room, you can swoop in and save me."
Renala chuckles, leaning back in her seat. "Also means I can steal your stuff while you're away," she jokes followed by a smirk. "Nah, tampering with the locks here sounds like a bad idea. Could lead to needless trouble when you can just ask the bartender or something."
Steve shrugs and scratches at the back of his neck, "Suit yourself. Not much to choose from up there unless you've been itching to get your hands on some of my clothes." he says with a chuckle.
Renala frowns. "Probably not worth getting kicked out for that," she says, a chuckle escaping her. "Think it's a little too early for me to take your clothes," Renala jokes, followed by a wink.
Iressa is snickering to herself, enjoying the exchange when she seems to remember something. "Oh, oh dear." She murmurs, "I'm sorry to say I must be going. I wish I could've sent you off, Renala."
Renala smiles to the other asari. "I won't be gone for good," she chuckles. "I'll see you when I get back, okay?"
Steve goes to respond to Renala when Iressa pipes up. Instead, he slides out of the booth to let her out. "Everything alright?" he asks, propping a hand against the table as he waits for Iressa to climb out.
Iressa gives her a smile in response, "I know. We'll be waiting." She assures, climing out of the booth and slipping past Steve. "No, no. Everything's alright. I've just forgotten about something. Have to run. Goodbye!" She waves as she turns to hurry up the steps.
Steve slides back into the booth and gives another glance in Iressa's direction. "Well... That was odd." he says, "Maybe she forgot to feed her krogan."
Renala smirks as she glances towards the staircase. "Or maybe she put a some tasty-looking sample in the fridge without telling him," she suggests.
Steve chuckles loudly, "I don't know about your room, but mine doesn't even look big enough for a krogan. I have no idea how he can even stay here comfortably."
Renala shrugs. "I don't know," she says. "Maybe they got bigger rooms for-." Her omni-tool interrupts her. "Oh, seems like it's time to go," she says as she enables her omni-tool to stop the alarm. "The shuttle leaves soon, and I don't want to run to the port."
Steve frowns and gives a loud sigh, "Guess that means I have to let you go..." he says as he clambers out of the booth once again. "Nine days, right?"
Renala nods. "Right," she says as she downs the glass of beer and gets out of the booth, leaving the glass on the table. "It's not like I'll be gone for years," she says with a slight sympathetic tilt of her head.
Steve nods to himself and moves in for a hug, wrapping an arm around the asari, "Yeah... Just-... Come back." he says, "I'm gonna miss ya."
Renala winds both her arms around him in turn, ignoring the slight discomfort hugging his armored form would cause. "I will," she says in a reassuring tone. "Stay safe while I'm gone, okay?"
Steve scoffs loudly, "You make it sound like I'm reckless!" he says, a smirk forming on his lips. "I'll keep myself out of trouble..." he continues, "Not sure for how long, though. So you better hurry back in case I need someone to drag my ass out of a fire." He gives a quick chuckle, causing his shoulders to rhythmically raise and lower.
Renala chuckles as she lets go of him. "I'll try my best," she says as she reaches for her travel bag, which seems to be packed to capacity. "Anyway, as much as I hate to say it, I really need to get going if I don't want to run." She pauses, not having anything else to add than, "Good bye."
Steve gives a nod followed by another sigh, "Bye, Ren. Have a good time." he says, "I'll be here when you get back."