#Miner'sRespite – March 22, 2014

Jason is seated at a booth near the bar with a half-full glass on the table. Dressed in his typical fashion, blue-and-white hardsuit, his back is against the wall and his legs kicked up on the bench as he scrutinizes a datapad with a somewhat confused look on his face.

Renala descends the stairs from the second floor, looking around the bar. Despite spotting Jason, she makes her way over to the bar and stops there, waving down the bartender. After receiving a glass of beer, she picks it up and approaches the booth Jason's at.

Jason glances up from his datapad as Renala approaches. "Oh... Hey you." he says, seeming a bit surprised at running into the asari. He sets the datapad down on the table and takes a quick swig of his drink. "So, what's up with you?" he asks, raising an eyebrow, "Any word on... Our friend?"

Renala shakes her head before placing the drink on the table. "No," she says. "I've heard nothing, which is good." She takes the seat opposite him before adding, "Because I'm not quite ready to be the next missing miner."

Jason gives a sigh, "That's not going to happen, Renala, but this is the only lead we have. If you hear anything... Anything... We need to follow up on it." He rotates on his seat, sliding his legs under the table as he faces the asari, "You know that, right?"

Renala nods. "You'll be the first to know, but if... things go to hell and that happens," she begins. "I'm planning for that. If I don't need it, then good, but I'm not going to count on best-case."

Jason nods in turn, "I don't blame you." he says, giving a slight shrug, "So? What have you managed to come up with?"

Renala frowns. "Not much, yet," she says. "I have a list of parts, and code to run on it after a few tweaks." She sips her drink. "I just need to find an importer that's willing to get it. I've found a few options that I've contacted. Four in Adrasteia and one in Linissa."

Jason shakes his head, appearing a bit confused, "Parts?" he asks, furrowing his brow, "Parts for what?"

Renala | "A tiny tracker, and listening bug," she says. "I want something a little more programmable and powerful than the embedded systems you'll find in regular ones. So that if things go badly, you'll have a trail to follow. If not, well, it was a fun project."

Jason gives a lopsided smirk, looking a bit impressed, "Not bad." he says, reaching for another quick sip of his drink, "Mendez is getting pretty restless over this whole ordeal. If I didn't know better, I'd say he wants to wrap this up more than I do. I think he feels like I'm silently blaming him for this, since he was on watch over at the mines." He shakes his head and gives another shrug, "All we're contracted for is to make sure nobody goes in or out that isn't supposed to be there, you know? We can't account for people once they're off the clock."

Renala nods. "Well, the contract owner isn't on the same page about that," she says. "Maybe he knew some of the people that's vanished? Or just feels a responsibility outside the contracts.... I don't know." She sips her beer.

Jason glances down at the table for a moment before attempting to change the subject somewhat. "You heard the news about those human colonies disappearing?" he asks, a hint of concern in his eyes, "Spooky shit..."

Renala nods. "Yeah...," she says. "I haven't read much about it... not that was much to read about it. What are they suspecting?"

Jason nods a few times, "Seems that way." he says, before adding, "At least that we know of, anyways."

Jason considers it for a moment before responding, "There's definitely no love lost between us and the batarians." he admits, "I suppose it's just as good of an explanation as any. It just seems pretty efficient for a band of slavers. I've crossed my fair share of 'em during my time in the Traverse, and it was rarely a 'down-to-the-last-man' affair, you know? Has to be one scary operation they're running..."

Renala frowns. "Maybe they want you to slow down," she says, "who knows. Whatever it is, I hope they figure it out before more colonies end up the same way."

Jason nods, "No kidding... Shit keeps up and becoming 'another missing miner' might end up being the least of your worries." he teases, allowing his smirk to return.

Jason nods silently as he takes another sip of his drink. "So how have things been around here?" he asks once he's set his drink aside, "No more issues since that whole clusterfuck with Rellis?"

Renala considers the question for a moment. "It's been quiet here," she says. "Steve says there's nothing but the occasional drunkard to deal with." She sips her drink. "As for whether that asari has shown her face again... well, I'm not the one to ask, since I don't go here too often."

Jason raises an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "You live above a bar, yet you don't go to it often?" he asks, seeming almost offended, as if it were blasphemy.

Renala chuckles. "I've had a bit to do," she says. "It may look easy, but the magic that gets doors open and terminals talking takes a lot of work to make sure it works all the time." She glances around the place. "And it's not cheap living here, so I'm planning to change that."

Renala nods. "Yeah, should have done it long ago," she says. "Since I'm not alone on it, it'll probably be something here in town."

Jason raises an eyebrow, curious to inquire further, but realizing it would probably be rude and nosy. "Moving in with someone else?" he asks, since he is a rude, inconsiderate bastard.

Renala nods, again. "Yeah," she says. "With Steve. I know he stays here for free, but have you seen the rooms here? They're not really meant for more than staying here for the nights."

Jason shakes his head, "Can't say I have, but-..." he hesitates, glancing down at the table momentarily before re-establishing eye contact, "...How well do you know him? You really trust him enough to share a place with him?"

Renala sighs. "Yes, I do," she says. "Remember that mission he... briefly talked about when he spoke up for me when we had the job interview?" She takes another sip of her drink. "We... might not have gotten out of there if not of him."

Jason puts up a hand, "You don't have to explain, Renala. I'm not trying to give you a lecture, you know what you're doing. It's just-..." he stops and shakes his head with a sigh, "No... Nevermind. It's none of my business. Just be careful."

Alex enters the bar, looking down at the ground. She sits in a nearby booth, and lays her head down on the table.

Renala raises an eyebrow. "Careful?" she says. "Steve's a good friend. I've known him since about as long as I've been here." She pauses. "He had some tough decisions to make on that job, and he made them without hesitation."

Jason raises his other hand apologetically, "Got it. I'll mind my own business." he says. "I didn't mean anything by it..." he continues in an attempt at averting a potential argument, although he obviously did mean something by it.

Renala frowns. "If you get another contract like the job with the salarian," she says, "you should consider having him on the team. It's up to you, of course, but that's the sort of jobs he's most suited for."

Jason takes a deep breath, looking a bit off-put by the notion. He lays his hands flat against the table and gives a short shrug. "I'll consider it." he says, his smirk slowly returning to his face. "But then who's gonna take on the important role of bouncing drunks out on their ass until he gets back?" he jokes.

Alex picks her head up and begins rubbing her temples. She looks over at the bar for a moment, then murmurs something about 'making this happen.' She walks to the bar and asks the bartender, "Do you have orange juice?" She smiles nervously.

Renala hums thoughtfully. "Grumpy?" she asks, obviously joking. "I'm just saying he's far more useful out in the field than telling drunks they've had enough."

Aylena approaches the human woman, nodding. "We do, there's too many humans here not to," she says. "What can I make you?" It's possible she assumes the girl just likes a drink that contains orange juice.

Alex stares at her blankly, not sure of what she means. "Um, just orange juice..?"

Jason nods a few times, still sporting a smirk, "Fine, fine. I get it. You seem to have a lot of faith in him. We'll get him out there, I promise."

Aylena nods. "Ice?" she asks before walking off to find the bottle along the opposite wall, still within earshot of the human woman.

Renala smiles. "I'm glad to hear it," she says. "So, how's things going with the agency otherwise?"

Alex smiles. "No, thanks." Alex watches the bartender, and takes a random note of where the bottle is.

Jason shrugs and takes another swig of his drink which effectively empties the glass. "Other than Hnipinn breathing down my neck over their missing people? Yeah, we're walking on sunshine."

Aylena lets out a tiny smile before pouring a glass of the juice, leaving the bottle under the counter. "Here you go," she places the glass on the countertop before the human. "Is there anything more?"

Alex shakes her head. "Thank you!" Alex walks back to a booth with the glass, sipping out of it happily.

Renala frowns. "They should be aware we're not private investigators, right?" she asks.

Va'ynna walks down the stairs, wearing the dark-green dress that she did yesterday. She stops at the bottom of the stairs and looks around. She spots Jason first, but seeing him with someone that's almost a stranger makes her hesitate, so spotting Alex makes her decision. The asari approaches the human woman's booth and stops near it. "Hey," she says, looking at her. "May... I join?" Unlike yesterday, Va'ynna did not bring her datapad.

Alex looks up from her drink, grinning widely. "Yeah, go ahead." Alex gestures to the seat across from her, "It'd be cool if you did."

Jason snorts loudly, which turns into a short chuckle. "That's funny." he says, "Of course. See, here's the thing. They don't give a fuck." He stares at Renala for a moment before shrugging, "They simply don't give a fuck. This is a small town in the Terminus, Renala. You think they get people qualified to press all the right-... Uhh.... Mining buttons, or whatever the fuck it is down there, filling out applications? Thieves, criminals, and dirtbags is mostly what's left out here..." he says before clearing his throat and adding, "Present company excluded, of course..." He continues after a short pause, "Anyways, they lose someone who can operate one of those.... Miner... Things...." he begins pantomiming pressing buttons and pulling levers, "And they're losing money, right? So they can either hire someone to figure out what the fuck is going on. Or they can force us to do it for free, knowing we can't afford to lose their business."

Jason waits a moment and blinks a few times before finishing with, "That's what Vasquez says, anyways."

Va'ynna returns the smile and takes the opposite seat. "Thanks," she says. "So, um, how are you?" She brushes at the creases in her dress. After that, she waves at Jason, not really checking if he noticed.

Renala nods. "Oh, I see," she says. "But well, you get what you pay for.... I'm hoping we'll find the guys and bring them back, of course, but Aite is a big world."

Jason does spot Va'ynna, and he raises an arm into the air, returning her wave. "You off the clock?" he shouts with little concern over who it may bother.

Alex | "I'm doing pretty well, thanks for asking. What about you?"

Jason gives Renala a nod and lowers his voice back to conversational levels to respond, "Well, we'll either find them, or we'll take a big hit to the credit chit. Which means we're all getting pay cuts. Myself included. And, shit, I probably already make less than the rest of you."

Renala raises her brows and looks over her shoulder at his shouting. She returns her gaze as she's spoken to, though. "After the payment for that job with the salarian, I'm not gonna complain... too much." A smirk forms, her tone not entirely serious.

Va'ynna stares at Jason, looking a little embarrased, but a nod should convey her answer before she addresses Alex. "I'm... still got a few more days off, so, I'm arlight," she says. "I've... been looking on the Extranet for places to live, but... I don't think I'll go for that."

Renala nods, slowly. "Yeah, that'd be nice," she says. "Another one of these and I'll be able to afford something better than the piece of crap I use for armor." She sips her drink.

Alex nods. "Oh that sounds pretty nice. I went job hunting today... It was very interesting." She takes a drink of her orange juice.

Jason clanks his knuckles against his chestplate, which has a visible ding in it from the rifle round it took during their last outing, "A good hardsuit will last you a while." he says, "I've put some mileage in on this one. Had her cleaned up just before that last job, but other than that, she's been pretty reliable."

Va'ynna looks a little curious. "Oh? How so?" she asks. "If I can ask you, of course."

Renala nods, glancing at his armor. "They better, since a good one costs around thirty thousand... at least around here," she says. "I'll probably buy one soon after I find a place to live and can afford it."

Alex rubs her temples lightly. "I went to a few vendors and filled out a lot of papers, but one of the places I went to I accidentally knocked over some merchandise and was chased for a good hour..." She nods her head as she speaks then sets it down on the table.

Jason shrugs, "Can't put a price on your safety, right?" he asks, sounding almost like a salesman, "Have you checked to see what you can get for your hardsuit? Might be able to make a few credits to put towards your new one."

Va'ynna frowns. "You... were chased?" she asks, sounding a little confused.

Alex nods. "The store owner guy was already mad about something, and I kinda knocked over something expensive.... So I ran..."

Renala thinks for a moment. "I haven't," she says. "I could probably sell it for a few thousand. But, my knowledge of hardsuits is a little outdated."

Va'ynna tilts her head, looking a little concerned. "Oh... Goddess," she mutters. "Um, what... if they come looking for you?"

Jason clears his throat, "Tech project... I meant tech project." he corrects.

Alex eyes widen, and she looks down at her lap. "I don't know. I guess I'll just end up running again."

Renala chuckles. "Nah, I'm guessing the systems in here barely fit their task," she says. "But sure, I can take it a shop and see what they'll give for it, after I get a new one."

Va'ynna frowns, glancing at the exit. "I've only... been here for less than... a year," she says, "but... you should... probably pay for it."

Alex sighs. "Yeah, I know. I will pay for it, but I gotta get a job and save up credits first."

Jason nods, "Well, good luck with that..." he says with a sigh, "But I should probably get going, Renala. You know where to find me if you hear any news."

Renala nods. "You'll hear from me as soon as anything happens, even if it's the middle of the night," she says. "I'll see you again, Jason."

Va'ynna is still looking a little concerned. "But, what if... they're not patient?" she asks.

Alex leans back in the booth. "They're going to have to be, or they can shove it."

Va'ynna tilts her head. "But...," she begins, "people here have guns. I'd... be very... afraid if I did something like... that."

Alex shrugs. "I'll try and work something out, hopefully." She laughs, "Aw, man this sucks."

Va'ynna | "How... much did it cost?" she asks, sounding a little curious.

Alex murmurs, "I think about forty thousand..."

Jason smirks and rises from his seat, "I'll see you around, Renala." he says as he scoops his glass up off the table and heads towards the counter to pay his bill.

Va'ynna just stares at her, mouth agape for a moment before she catches herself doing so. "Goddess," she says. "That's... maybe what you will earn in... a year if the job listings... I've seen are... the norm."

Renala nods, and looks at him for a few seconds before turning back to her drink. She remains in the booth for the time being.

Alex nods and sighs again. "He's just going to have to deal with it then."

Jason grabs his datapad from Renala's booth as he passes by and gives the asari a nod before swinging by Va'ynna's booth. "Hey, don't mean to interrupt." he says, giving the two women an apologetic nod while poking through a compartment on his hardsuit, "Was looking for you earlier, V. I know I'm a few days late... Work and all... But here. Couldn't find any wreaths." He produces a small, somewhat crumpled white flower from the compartment that was nearly certainly picked on his way to the Respite, and sets it on the table in front of her. He gives a lopsided smirk and pats her on the shoulder, "Happy.... Uhh.... January!" he says enthusiastically, looking back and forth between Va'ynna and Alex.

Va'ynna frowns, but is interrupted by Jason before she could respond. She glances at the flower before looking up at him. "Um... thank you," she says with a genuine smile. "I... appreciate the thought." Whether it was because she was too scared to go out to find a florist was anyone's guess. "And... happy Janiris to you too."

Alex drinks the last of her orange juice, and sighs contentedly.

Jason nods and removes his hand. "Alright, I'll catch you later, V." he says, offering the other woman a polite smile before making his way out of the Respite.

Va'ynna nods. "I'll... see you, Jason," she says before looking back at Alex. "Well... I've felt bad if he actually... got me a wreath on Janiris." She pauses. "Uh, that's asari new years. It was four days ago."

Alex nods and smiles. "Well, Happy Janiris then."

Alex fiddles with her empty glass, "It's kinda getting late huh?" She blinks a bit, and yawns.

Va'ynna returns the smile. "Thank you," she says. "And yeah... I was... just here to see if... anyone I knew was here. I wasn't... planning on staying late."

Alex | "Well, did you want to call it a night or stay here for a bit?" She stretches a bit.

Va'ynna quickly enables her omni-tool to check the time, raising an eyebrow. "I... thought I had more time than I had," she says, "so... I suppose we'll... call it a night."

Alex smirks. "I guess I gotta bolt then make sure I don't run into that guy again." She stands up and looks around, "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, maybe?"

Va'ynna nods, looking up at her with a concerned gaze. "Yeah...," she says. "Stay... safe, okay?"

Renala drinks the last bit of her drink and makes a trip by the bar to pay for it before making her way back to her room upstairs.

Alex smiles reassuringly. "I will, okay?" Alex giggles and walks to the bar to pay for her drink.

Va'ynna nods. She stands up after the other woman has walked away, and heads up to her room.

Alex walks out of the inn and heads to her small apartment.