Va'ynna stands behind the bar, having gradually returned to working. She looks a little uncomfortable where she stands, often glancing towards the exit uneasily. She's in her familiar red dress. There is a reason the afternoon is her shift at the bar, for even as it nears the end of it like right now, there are rather few patrons about. The place isn't dead quiet, however, as there are three groups in booths along the walls. There are two patrons at the bar at present, all of them humans, but none currently seem to need anything.
#Miner'sRespite – February 12, 2014
Ilyna enters the Miner's Respite, giving the establishment a brief look-over. A travel bag and a backpack is all luggage on her person. She is in a long black modest dress with dark-gray trims. It does give a hint at her general figure, but doesn't emphasize the smaller contours. The violet asari makes her way across the room, careful not to bump her bag into anyone or anything, and takes a seat at the bar. She places her bag and backpack between her stool and the one to the left.
Jason enters the Respite and stops at the doorway, giving a quick look around the establishment. As usual, he's wearing his hardsuit. He would have failed to recognize Ilyna from behind, were it not for the travel luggage accompanying her. He struts towards the bar, stopping just behind Ilyna and placing a gauntlet on her shoulder. "Is this seat taken?" he asks with a smirk, gesturing towards the stool beside her.
Ilyna flinches a little at the armored hand placed upon her shoulder and looks over it as she hears his voice. It took a moment for her to recognize the human, but when she did, she rose from her seat. "Jason!" she says, wrapping her arms around him without much warning; ignoring the discomfort of hugging someone in armor. "It's good to see you again."
Jason is taken a bit aback at the asari's sudden outburst, but simply chuckles to himself and wraps his arms around her in turn. "You too, Ilyna." he says, releasing the hug and taking a step back to get a better look at her. "You look great! I almost didn't recognize you without a hardsuit." he jokes, his smile widening, "How have you been?"
Va'ynna can't help but smile as she sees the two, but doesn't want to interrupt the reunion, and instead glances around the bar in case someone need her.
Ilyna returns the smile. "I've been good," she says. "It's been a calm year or so, but I've enjoyed the change of pace." She sits back down, still facing him. "How is it going with you, Jason?"
Jason takes the seat beside her and waves at Va'ynna, "Rum and coke, V, when you get the chance." he calls out, offering the bartender a friendly smile before turning back to Ilyna. "It's going-... It's going well." he decides with a nod, "A bit stressful with everything going on, but it's good. We're still trying to get the hang of this whole 'running our own business' deal, but that's to be expected, I guess."
Ilyna nods. "I take it your business is coming along well, then?" she asks. "I would have signed up had I still been a mercenary, but your probably remember how my luck was." A chuckle follows before she glances towards the bartender. "I'd like a glass of brandy, please. Serrice Ice if you have it."
Va'ynna looks thoughtful as she approaches one of the terminals, tapping away on it. "We do. Just a moment," she says before walking over to the back wall, picking out the three bottles needed for both the ordered drinks.
Jason gives a short laugh and a nod, "It's coming along about as well as it can." he says, "I mean... I'm a long way off from rich and famous, but it's paying the bills." He shifts in his seat a bit and leans an arm against the counter, "Can't say I blame you for getting out of the life." he continues with a sigh, "I tried to get away. Had a job back on Earth for a while... Construction, if you can believe that." he chuckles, "But I'm just not cut out for that kind of life. I didn't know what to do with myself."
Ilyna hums thoughtfully. "I can believe that, and it was probably worth trying," she says, offering a small smile. "Honestly, I can't tell what I want to do with my life, and the time will come when I have to make an actual decision."
Jason waves it off and gives a shake of his head, "Don't worry about it too much. Take your time. Figure out what it is that makes you feel alive, and do it." He gives V a quick glance as he waits for his drink, but turns back to Ilyna when he realizes it's not ready yet, "You've got a long life, Ilyna. Plenty of time to make mistakes." he adds with a smirk.
Va'ynna returns to the counter with the bottle, carrying them carefully to the counter. She pours the rum and coke correctly without checking her cheat sheet and the brandy is a no-brainer. Va'ynna places their ordered drinks on the counter before them. "Here," she says. "Was there anything more?"
Ilyna chuckles. "That's true, but I really should be careful," she says, "considering how much education costs." She looks up at the bartender, and wraps a hand around her drink. "Thank you," she says. "I booked a room here for the night, but I suppose that can wait for now."
Jason scoops up his drink as it's set down and shakes his head. "I'm good, V. Thanks." he says before taking a sip from his glass and setting it back down. "So..." he begins, returning to his conversation with Ilyna, "There's really no chance that you'll ever return to your previous work? You don't ever miss it?"
Va'ynna | "Yeah, that can wait," she says as she takes a few steps back and heads over to another patron further down the bar.
Ilyna looks thoughtful. "I've been in the military since when I was sixty-seven," she begins, "until around the time I met you. It's what I can best, but I'm trying to find something else." A smile forms as she adds, "I've missed you all, though."
Jason nods, "Back atchya, Ilyna." he says with a lopsided smile, "Tarlon is around here somewhere. You know how he is. Work, work, work." he says with a shrug, "Did you check out his book?"
Ilyna tilts her head. "His book?" she asks. "I must have missed that." She takes a tiny sip of her drink. "I haven't contacted him, though, so I don't think he know that I'm here."
Jason takes another sip of his drink and nods, "Yeah..." he says, setting the glass back down, "He had a book published. I ordered a copy a while back. Tried reading it, but I only got through the first three pages." he admits with a smirk, "It was like trying to have a conversation with him. I only understood a third of what I read." he shrugs, "But he's doing what he loves, so I'm proud of him." He breaks eye contact for a moment, "Linda... That's another story. After what she went through, something... changed." he sighs, his smile becoming a bit more somber, "I guess that's to be expected, though. We went through some shit back then. Guess it probably changed all of us in some way..."
Ilyna hesitates a little, but places a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, I think it did," she says. "And here we all are, alive and well. I suppose that's something. How is she these days, then, if I may ask?"
Jason forces a smile. "That, we are." he says with a nod. "She's-... I don't know." he sighs, "She doesn't talk about it much, but I know it bothers her that she's never going to recover a hundred-percent. She's just not the same. She puts a lot of time into running the business and making sure everything is going smoothly, but-... I don't know. I think she's worried. I can see it. Everytime I go out, she has this look like I'm not going to come back..."
Ilyna glances away for a moment, frowning. "Oh," she begins. "It sounds like she really cares about you." She picks up her drink and takes a sip of the blue liquor. "I'm sorry I brought it up, Jason."
Jason shakes his head and waves it off, "No, no... Nothing to be sorry about. Besides, it could be a whole lot worse. She could still be stuck on that hospital bed. Or worse, dead. Everyone has their ups and downs... We'll get through it."
Ilyna turns towards the counter, not sure what to say to this at first. "Yeah, I think you deserve this getting better," she says in a lowered voice. "Anyway," she goes quiet for a moment, trying to get the conversation off that topic. "Is there anything you recommend seeing while I'm here?"
Jason glances around the bar. "Well... You've already seen the bar." he says, his smile brightening up a bit, "I think you've seen the jist of what Aite has to offer." he continues, a short chuckle escaping him. "How long are you staying, anyways? I'd love to show you the office before you leave."
Ilyna shrugs. "I haven't really decided yet," she says. "If I don't completely ignore my studies, I can probably stay for fifteen days or so. My booking," she glances towards the bartender, "is for five days, but she... I think it was her I called, said that I shouldn't worry about them being full-booked."
Va'ynna is currently attending to another patron that's ordering something to eat. She's mostly remained out of hearing range of Jason and Ilyna, however.
Jason nods a few times, "Good... Then we have plenty of time to catch up." he smirks, "And like I told you before... We've got more room at the office than we know what to do with. It might not be the comfiest of setups, but you're welcome to stay there if by some chance the Respite gets a sudden rush of customers."
Ilyna smiles. "Thanks, I really appreciate that," she replies. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you two have set up, and maybe meeting some of the people working there." She takes a sip of her brandy.
Jason | "We've got a good group put together. A few are actually staying here, as a matter of fact, so I'd be surprised if you didn't bump into them." he takes a swig of his drink and waves over Va'ynna, "Hey V, c'mere." he shouts obnoxiously, "I want you to meet a friend of mine."
Va'ynna looks over at Jason, appearing hesitant to approach them, but seems to decide to as she makes her way along the bar to where they are. She looks umcomfortable as she looks at the other asari, saying a low "Hey."
Jason sets his glass down once again as Va'ynna approaches, his smile widening. "It's good to see you back behind the bar, V." he says, "This is Ilyna. Good friend of mine. We go way back." he gestures towards the asari beside him. "Ilyna, this is V. The best bartender on Aite."
Ilyna extends a hand towards the bartender, offering a gentle smile. "Ilyna T'Rea. Me and Jason used to work together while I was a mercenary," she says. "It's nice to meet you."
Va'ynna stares at her for a moment, her cheeks growing purple at the compliment she can hardly live up to. After a few seconds pass, she takes the offered hand. "I'm Va'ynna," she says. "And it's nice meeting you too." She glances at Jason as she lets go of the asari's hand. "Yeah, I think it's good... to do something with my days again." She looks uncomfortable; meeting people other than by taking their orders wasn't her strong suit to say at least.
Jason nods, "Yeah, better to keep busy." he agrees, "My partner was responding to Ms. D'Inea's proposal when I left the office. If everything goes well, I'm guessing we'll have some security down here within the next few days."
Ilyna tilts her head, unaware of what's going on here. "Oh, did something happen?" she says. "If I may ask, of course. I don't mean to pry."
Va'ynna nods to Jason, smiling slightly. "I'm... glad to hear that," she says, glancing uneasily at the asari as she asked. "I... hope your partner agrees with the offer?"
Jason gives a slight shrug as he glances at Ilyna, "Nobody got hurt... But there was an incident with an armed customer. We're, hopefully, going to be providing security. Linda was working on coming to an agreement with the owner when I left the office." he says and looks to Va'ynna once again, "Don't worry, V. I told her how important it was. She'll figure it out." he offers a reassuring smile.
Ilyna catches the uneasy glance and looks towards the bartender after hearing about it. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Va'ynna," she says. "I'm sure they'll help you out."
Va'ynna smiles. "Thank you," she says. "It means... a lot to me." She glances down the bar to see if there are any patrons signaling for her, but she sees none that do. "Can I get you anything?"
Jason shakes his head, "Nah, I'm set. Should actually get going after I finish this one up." he says, lifting his drink to his lips, "Plenty to take care of back at the office. Plus I'm sure you'd like to get settled in, Ilyna."
Ilyna nods in agreement. "Yeah, it's been a long day getting here," she says, "but thank you." She turns towards him. "I don't have to go yet, though."
Va'ynna smiles slightly. "Okay," she says. "Please tell me when you want me to set up your room then, Ilyna." She takes a step back and glances around the bar, then heads over to another patron further down the bar who signalled for her.
Jason removes a credit chit from his hardsuit and places it on the counter. "Unfortunately, Ilyna, I do." he says with a sigh, "Need to check in with Linda and see how everything is coming along. How about I send a shuttle to pick you up tomorrow and bring you by the office?"
Ilyna places her drink on the counter. "That sounds good to me," she says with a smile. "I'm looking forward to it, Jason."
Jason nods towards Ilyna, "Put her drinks on my tab, V." he says, "Just don't let her bankrupt me." he adds with a smirk.
Ilyna looks up to him with a chuckle. "I do like Serrice Ice a lot, so be careful there, Jason," she says in a joking tone. "I mean, thank you."
Va'ynna nods at his request after serving the other patron's drink, and makes her way over to them again.
Jason eyes the asari for a moment and raises an eyebrow, "Just try not to get too trashed." he says, "I'll have the shuttle stop by early. Can't have you showing up at the office in front of my employees drunk off your purple ass... That's my job." He gives a chuckle and pushes the credit chit across the counter as he stands from his stool.
Ilyna can't help herself but laugh. "Hey, I was only joking," she says as she stands up in turn, holding her arms out for a hug. "I'll let you keep your job, I promise."
Jason wraps the asari up in a hug and gives her a tight squeeze. "It really is great to see you again, Ilyna." he says before planting a kiss on the top of her head with a loud, exaggerated 'MWAH'.
Ilyna wound her arms around him, and grew a little purple around the cheeks at the kiss, but tries to hide it; she does chuckle, though. "I'll see you tomorrow," she says as she lets go of the hug.
Va'ynna brings a hand up to her mouth as a giggle escape her, some slight shaking too from the laghter she did manage to supress the sound of. "See you, Jason," she says as she regains composure.
Jason puts up a hand, giving the two asari a quick wave as he makes his way towards the exit and disappears through the door.
Ilyna walks back to her seat, and sits down. "I think I'll get going, as well," she says, smiling at the other asari. "Could you please set up my room?"
Va'ynna nods, "Of course. It'll just take a moment." She steps towards a terminal and starts tapping on its interface to carry out her request. "How would you like to pay for it?"
Ilyna enables her omni-tool. "Thank you," she says. "I can transfer it directly, just send me the information I need, please."
Va'ynna nods, again. "Yeah, I... can do that," she taps some more on the terminal and the request is sent. "I'll give you the key once the payment clears."
Ilyna glances at the payment information, nodding to herself before approving it with a few taps on the interface, "There, it should be sent now."
Va'ynna waits for a moment before a small smile tugs at her lips, and she nods. "I hope you enjoy your stay, Ilyna," she says while finishing setting the room up, "and to... see you again down here."
Ilyna picks up her drink and downs the rest of it. "I'll see you again, Va'ynna," she says with a smile. "Stay safe." She places her empty glass on the counter before picking up her bags and making her way towards the staircase.