#Miner'sRespite – March 13, 2014

Va'ynna is sitting alone at a booth near the bar, reading something on a datapad; she is thus not paying any attention to her surroundings. She's in her familiar dark-green dress. There is a half-empty pint-glass of water on the table before her.

Steve exits from the back room and casually leans against the bar counter with a glass of water in hand. He's wearing his armor, minus helmet, and has his SMG holstered at his thigh. He glances around the bar a few times, making sure nothing seems out of place before resting his gaze on Va'ynna. After a moment, he rounds the counter and steps up to Va'ynna's booth. "Care for a little company?" he asks.

Va'ynna snaps her head in his direction at hearing his voice, remaining quiet for four seconds. "Yeah, please," she nods, returning to look at her datapad as she shuts it off.

Steve nods, giving a fairly neutral smile as he takes a seat across from the asari. He sets his drink on the table and slides further into the booth. "Va'ynna, right?" he asks, but doesn't bother to wait for a response before continuing, "Just figured I've been working here for a few weeks now, and I've hardly taken the time to get to know any of my co-workers. Thought I should change that."

Va'ynna returns the smile while gently putting the datpad down on the table. "I... yeah, I'm sorry," she says, looking at him. "For avoiding you, I mean."

Steve looks slightly confused at the asari's comment. He furrows his brow, casting a suspicious look at her. "Avoiding me? Why would you be avoiding me...?"

Va'ynna fidgets with her hands, averting his gaze for a moment. "I...," she says. "It's... just me, not you. I'm... not comfortable around armed people... after what happened."

Steve bites his lower lip for a few moments as he recalls the surveillance footage. He quickly nods and removes his SMG from his thigh. He sets it on the table, the weight from the weapon causing a loud thump as it makes contact with the surface. He slides the weapon across the table. "Does that make you feel any better?" he asks, the same neutral smile remains on his face.

Va'ynna stares at him as he takes out the weapon with a slight bit of fear in her expression. "Um," she says, laying a hand on the weapon and pushing it about an inch towards his direction, shaking her head. "It's... stupid of me, I know. I should trust you, because... Jason assigned you here."

Steve shakes his head and gives a slight chuckle. "And just how much do you trust Jason?" he asks, "He's usually armed too, isn't he?" He reaches across the table and pulls his SMG back towards him before reholstering it. "My point is that the weapon doesn't matter. It's the intent of the person holding it. Look around this room." he says, casting a glance out towards the other patrons, "I don't see a whole lot of weapons, do you? Do you think that means they can't hurt you?"

Va'ynna follows his glance, frowning. "Yeah, but... I knew him from before what happened," she says, looking back at him. "I'm... not afraid in here. People ... leave me alone unless I'm behind the bar."

Steve gives a short shrug, "I'm just saying if someone wants to hurt you, they're probably going to hurt you. Can't dwell on it and let that kind of thing control your life. Besides," he continues, "I've looked over the information on what happened here, and Jason doesn't think you're in any danger. I tend to agree with him. But if either of the assailants try to come in, I'm gonna kill 'em. This is about as safe as you're gonna get." he says plainly.

Va'ynna nods, looking a little more tense. "That... doesn't make me feel any better," she says. "I... I'm trying to, but... it's not easy. A few days ago was the first time I went outside."

Steve shakes his head, "It's not supposed to make you feel better. But that's the reality of life. You just have to figure out how to get over it." He takes a sip of his water and sets the glass a side. "Ya know you're pretty skittish for someone in the Terminus... How long have you been here?"

Va'ynna hums thoughtfully, looking down at the table. "Half a year, almost," she says. "It was... going well, too." She picks up her glass of water and takes a sip before looking back at him, though without eye-contact.

Va'ynna frowns. "Thessia," she says. "I... didn't want to stay there anymore... and here I am."

Steve raises an eyebrow and begins to fiddle with his glass of water, rotating the cup absent-mindedly, "What was so bad about Thessia?" he asks, genuinely curious.

Va'ynna shakes her head. "Nothing... I just," she says. "I wanted to leave. It's... nothing weird about that."

Steve shakes his head, "Maybe not. But it's a pretty big choice to come running to such a remote place. Out of all the places you could have went, you chose some backwater town on a dying planet..."

Va'ynna frowns. "It's... not the worst place I could have gone," she says. "I liked it out here. I still do, but... you know."

Steve sighs loudly, "I just don't think you're cut out for life out here, Va'ynna." he says matter-of-factly, "This place is gonna eat ya alive. But it's your life-.." he shrugs, "...and, as long as Aylena is paying for it, I'll do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens here." He smiles as if he believes that might somehow be comforting to Va'ynna.

Va'ynna nods. "Neither... do I," she admits, "but I'm trying... to make the best of it." She takes a sip of the water. "Thank you...."

Steve sits back in his seat and stares across the table at Va'ynna for a moment before speaking. "So, tell me about yourself, Va'ynna." he says, giving a quick glance about the Respite to make sure everything seems to be going well, "What do you do in your free time? What did you do back on Thessia?" he tilts his head to the side, "Have you always been a bartender?"

Va'ynna shakes her head. "You... haven't see me work, have you?" she says with a sheepish smile. "I never stuck with a job, but they... were mostly retail... even if I didn't really like that line of work." She pauses. "Free time? I'm studying," she taps the dapatad, "or watching vids."

Steve continues to fidget with his glass idly, "Studying? What for?" he asks.

Va'ynna hums thoughtfully. "Yeah, but... I wouldn't need to be out front," she says. "I'm good at talking to customers at retail stores, but bartending... is different."

Steve raises an eyebrow, not seeming to understand what she means. "What's so different about the two? You're just keeping the customer interested enough to buy a product in both, right?"

Steve gives another shrug, "I guess. Seems strange for someone who isn't too fond of small talk to take a job as a bartender though..." he smiles, "Doesn't it?"

Va'ynna nods. "Mhm. That's... why I want to work in the kitchen," she says. "I already assist there for half my shifts, but... I'm getting better at it."

Steve takes another sip of his water. "I guess that's good. How does Aylena feel about losing one of her bartenders, though?"

Steve nods a few times to himself, "You think she'll hold it against you? Can be pretty shitty to work for someone who holds a grudge against you."

Va'ynna shakes her head. "No, I don't think she has," she says. "I guess I'll see when... I renew the contract after my training period runs out."

Steve chuckles to himself, "Well, good luck with that." he says before sliding out of the booth. "I should probably get back to my office. Got a few things to take care of." he says with a sigh, "But it was nice talking to you, Va'ynna."

Va'ynna looks up at him and nods. "You too," she says. "I'll see you."

Steve returns the nod and picks up his glass of water, "I'll be around." he says with a smile before making his way to the backroom.

Va'ynna watches him leave in the corner of eye before picking up the datapad and continuing where she left off, occasionally sipping from her glass of water.