#Miner'sRespite – March 30, 2014

Iressa is seated at one of the booths near to the bar, upright and alert. There's a glass of water set before her with what looks like only a few sips taken from it. The asari sits with her hands folded in her lap as she periodically glances around the bar.

Renala enters the Respite, a rather bulky weapon case held in her right hand. She's wearing a jacket over a dark-blue top. She walks with a bit of a limp and her left arm seems to be stiff. She spots Iressa, and makes her way over to her booth. "Hey," she says, standing near the table.

Iressa quickly spots Renala as she enters the Respite, a look of concern quickly coming over her as the other asari nears. She gets up next to the booth. "Renala." She says, laced with worry. "What's going on? I don't understand any of this."

Renala places the case on the table and turns towards the other asari. "We had a job with the agency," she says, "and ran into the people we met on that job with ExoGeni."

Iressa sighs, frowning. "I see. And... Maria? She was still there? Alive after all this time?" She asks, her tone a mix of relief and apprehension.

Renala nods, not looking too happy about it either. "Yeah...," she says. "She was pissed off about it too. We manage to get them all out of there."

Iressa wrings her hands somewhat, and glances behind her once before refocusing her attention. "You... appeared injured when you walked in. Is everything alright?"

Renala sighs and slips into the booth, taking the middle seat opposite where Iressa was. "All things considered, yeah," she says, looking up at the asari. "We really crashed their party, though, so I suppose it was... worth it."

Iressa nods, seeming to relax at Renala's rather undistressed tone. She returns to her seat in the booth, casting a glance at the weapon case. "And I suppose that explains how you happened across this." She says, gesturing vaguely to it. "I hope it wasn't any trouble for you- I really do appreciate it."

Renala offers a small smile. "Nah, I got the case cheap," she says, "and went to the agency's place by taxi. As for getting it... well, we wouldn't have avoided that trouble."

Iressa nods solemnly, "Well... I'll make sure he knows you brought it back." She pauses for a moment, a small smile forming in return. "He'll be so pleased." The asari responds in an almost wistful voice. Quickly, however, she regains focus. "Can... can you tell me the circumstances that led up to this? I can't imagine why anyone would, you know, go back there."

Renala looks thoughtful for a few seconds. "Some people had gone missing," she begins, "and a company wanted them found. I don't think I can give you the specifics, but we went looking for those people... which lead us to that place."

Iressa shakes her head quietly, "I won't press it. It's well enough that you managed to get them out." She responds, folding her hands on the table before her. "Of course... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all worried about Maria." The asari says, nearing a frown.

Renala sighs. "I think all of us have a reason to be," she says. "There was nothing we could have done back then, and I hope she realize that."

Iressa cocks her head slightly, "I know I didn't know her very well, but she never seemed the understanding sort to me. Too high tempered." She says. "So, either way, thank you for the warning. Perhaps I can learn to at least look like I can handle this shotgun."

Renala nods. "I wouldn't disagree with that... assessment," she says. "I had a gun to my head almost as soon as I got the cell open." She pauses, glancing at the case. "Not sure if they'll let you bring that gun to a range, though."

Iressa | "I can't say I'm terribly surprised." She says sympathetically. Glancing down at the case, she adds quickly, "Oh Goddess, no. I don't want to shoot it, just... learn to look like I would." The asari shakes her head soon after that comment, "Nevermind. I suppose it didn't make very much sense." She admits, averting her gaze. "Say... this is the agency with that man Wolfe, is that correct?" She asks, hopefully recalling the right information.

Renala chuckles. "I think I get it," she says. "I can't speak for your friend, but that weapon used on anything short of a thresher maw... you really have to hate them." She leans back in her seat. "And yes, I'm working for Wolfe."

Iressa chuckles softly, "It's his favorite for a reason, I suppose." She replies. "Hm, I see. I had a chance to meet him some time ago. He seemed interesting, very... casual." She decides, unclear whether or not this is a compliment of his character. "I have some difficulty imagining him in the position he's in."

Renala raises an eyebrow. "Hm?" she says. "What's the position he's in, if I may ask? I don't think you actually told me last time."

Iressa furrows her brow, "I... apologize. I meant Mr. Wolfe, Renala." She explains, a small grin of amusement appearing.

Renala has a bit of a sheepish smile on her face as the other asari explains. "Oh, him," she says. "Yeah, I'm starting to like him. They guy has ideals, which isn't something you see often for someone in his position."

Iressa nods, "I'd have to agree, he's not what I'd expect to see. It's almost... comforting, you know. These worlds are full enough of the type you'd expect." She says, leaning back in her seat. "So would you say it's going... well? I mean, maybe besides that last mission. I don't know if you'd called that 'going well'".

Renala sighs. "Despite the... unfortunate stuff," she says, "we ended that operation for good. The job before that, though." She pauses for a moment as she consider it. "It went very well. I did get shot when caught in a singularity, but... as much is to be expected, I suppose."

Iressa | "I'm very glad to hear that operation is shut down, at least." She says sincerely. "Getting shot, however..." She trails off, raising a brow. "I'd agree that it comes with the job, but that sounds rather morbid." The asari shrugs once before adding, "As long as you're satisfied with the work you're doing."

Renala frowns. "No, I'm not, to be honest," she says. "I wasn't a stranger to dangerous situations when I was younger, but now.... I have no idea why I'm going back to it." She sighs. "I guess part of me missed the excitement."

Maria descends the stairs of the Respite. She's cleaned up, but her red hair is still fairly long, not having had time to shave it after being freed. She's wearing a simple white t-shirt and pants - newly acquired no doubt. The looted Predator sticks up from the back of her pants. She walks towards the bar with a distant look on her face.

Aylena emerges from the kitchen at the time the human woman approaches the bar. She places a plate on the counter before a human patron, and exchanges a few words before taking a step back and looking around the bar.

Iressa seems a little surprised, and matches her frown. "I don't think it's that uncommon." She offers. "To miss the excitement, I mean." She adds, glancing rather absently at the movement in the bar and becomes quiet, quickly looking back to Renala. "I...I had no idea." She mutters, not finishing the thought.

Maria moves up to the bar and leans her forearms against it. "Batarian Ale." She says to the bartender before letting her gaze wander around the inn.

Renala glances towards the bar after the other asari does, and quickly looks back at Iressa. "I did look for an honest job," she says, doing her best to ignore the woman at the bar, "but there aren't really many tech companies on this rock, let alone one with a decent commute."

Aylena nods, glancing at a terminal. "Coming right up," she says, going off to find the bottle, seemingly knowing where it is. "Sure you don't want it mixed?" she asks as she comes back with the bottle and finds a glass.

Iressa tries to shake off the image, nodding along with the other asari's words. "I don't imagine there are." She says, "not on a world like this. You'd have more luck if you were in the mining trade."

Maria grins slightly. "Hell no. I can handle it." She sits on a stool and leans her back against the bar, still looking out across the room. She soon notices Renala and Iressa, studying them from a distance while she waits.

Renala nods. "There was a Linissan one I applied for," she says, "but I wasn't even invited to an interview. And I was running out of credits after I went to Thessia." She catches the gaze of Maria in the corner of her eyes, but doesn't make a clear reaction to it.

Aylena chuckles. "If you say so," she says, pouring the rouglhy half-pint glass with the drink, and placing it on the counter before her. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

Iressa frowns, "I never had much luck with work like that either. This seems to be the only job I've been able to work out. And even that sometimes can be unreliable." She explains rather absently, trying not to look back to Maria.

Maria glances at the bartender and takes her drink. "No, I'm good." She takes a swig of her drink, closing her eyes for a moment and letting out a pleased grunt. She continues observe the two asari after moving some of the rather unruly hair out of her face.

Iressa | "Well, yes. I believe that's the nature of most of the operations on this planet, though." She says, before adding thoughtfully. "It's hard to tell how much work I'll have on one planet. Eventually, of course, I'll have to move on."

Maria sips her drink while looking at the pair with a slightly menacing expression, seemingly deep in thought.

Renala glances towards Maria, more so in acknowledgement that she's looked at, a frown visible in her expression. After returning her gaze to Iressa, she sighs. "Yeah, that's true, but I'll miss you," she says with a chuckle. "How long are you expecting to stay on Aite, then?"

Iressa gives in and casts a glance to Maria, lingering only a moment before returning her attention. "I'm... not sure." She admits quietly. "Due to all these... developments, it may be less time than I was anticipating. But don't worry, I won't just up and disappear one day." She says, managing a small smile.

Maria takes a long swig from her batarian ale, bracing slightly against the bar and closing her eyes briefly. When she opens her eyes she stares at the floor for a little while before wandering across a few patrons and settling on Renala and Iressa again.

Aylena stands in the middle of the bar, currently serving no patrons. She does observe the staring human woman, though, maching her subtlety well.

Renala nods. "Me and Steve are looking for a new place to stay," she says, "when we find something... you'll always be welcome to come stay for a night or two if these developments continue."

Iressa | "That's... very kind. I hope it should never come to that, but I'll keep you two in mind." She says sincerely. "How is that search coming, by the way?"

Renala smiles. "I've... found one I think its alright," she says. "Steve wanted something in town, since we're two sharing the rent, and both of us has some consistent income."

Maria continues to sip her drink, her gaze not moving from the asari. Behind the hair which has started to fall back down, her eyes show a threatening gaze.

Renala shakes her head, but is getting a little irritated with the woman's staring. She glances towards her with narrowed eyes for two seconds, hoping she get's the point across. She looks back at Iressa. "It's a good option, yeah," she says, "but we can afford living in a more central location."

Maria finishes her drink, setting it down on the bar and sliding off the stool. She moves over to the booth where the asari are and sitting down next to Iressa. "Hey." It's clear the drink has affected her as she looks between them.

Iressa appears as if she's about to respond, but quickly tenses as Maria begins to near. She's struck as the woman sits down next to her, and stares on in silence.

Renala looks at Maria, appearing a little thoughtful for a moment. "Hey," she says, forcing a smile. "How's it going?"

Maria tilts her head slightly and offers an insincere smile. "Let's see... I'm not locked up in a fucking cave... so... yeah, pretty great. Right?" She lets out a short laugh and puts her hands on the table.

Iressa blinks several times, and quickly glances to Renala. "Uh, yeah." She mutters, "that's... that's always good." She manages in a very confused and somewhat unnvered voice.

Renala sighs. "Could we not talk about that?" she says, doing her best to not sound irritated, though it's somewhat audible in her tone. "Please?"

Maria lean forward towards Renala a bit. "Oh, I'm sorry, you find it uncomfortable? Of course, I'll stop right away." she says with a mockingly concerned tone, anger gradually filling her voice as she speaks. She glances at Iressa. "She got you out, huh? Figures."

Iressa glances apprehensively between the two. "Maria." She begins quietly, pausing as she reassess whether or not she's going to bother. "We did everything we could, it just wasn't that simple." She explains delicately, uncomfortable in her rather boxed-in position next to the clearly disgruntled human.

Renala places a hand on her forehead. "I've already explained myself," she simply says.

Maria shakes her head a few times and smiles again. "Yes, of course. You explained yourself. I understand. No hard feelings." She laughs and stands up, patting Iressa on the shoulder and leaving rather abruptly.

Iressa winces as Maria touches her shoulder, still not sure what's going on. She watches the woman depart for a few moments before returning her attention to Renala. "What... what was that?" She asks incredulously.

Renala glances at the woman just before she's out of earshot of her, then shakes her head. "If only I knew," she says, barely above a mutter.

Iressa sighs, looking down at the table and the glass of water she hasn't touched in a while. She pushes the glass away, glancing around behind her. "I... did not expect that. At all. I thought maybe she'd be angry, but that was... unexpected." She says, driving home the point. "I might... head up soon."

Renala nods. "Confusing," she says. "The way she's been staring at us for minutes... Well, i'm not the biggest optimist, but I don't think we've seen the end of that."

Iressa sighs, giving a shake of the head. "Unfortunately, I think you might be right about that." She says, slowly getting up from her seat. "Thank you for coming by, Renala. I appreciate the message as well as this." The asari gives the weapon case a light pat. "Come by my room whenever if you want to pick up the case."

Renala smiles at her. "I'm glad I could find it, Iressa," she says, "and keep the case. Besides, I don't think I'll ever need a case for a gun like that." A grin follows as she leans back in her seat. "I'll see you again, Iressa."

Iressa chuckles softly, "Alright, if you say so. I'll see you, Renala." She responds, picking up the case and turning to go. "Goodbye, and... be careful."

Renala nods. "I will," she says. "You too take care."

Iressa gives the other asari one more nod before turning to leave, retiring up the steps with the stored Graal held in front of her.

Renala remains in the booth for two minutes before standing up in reaction to a ping of her omni-tool. She then makes her way back up to her room.