Va'ynna is sitting by herself at the bar, a half-empty glass of water on the counter before her. The asari's clad in a dark-gray dress with green trims, and some signs of a kinetic barrier setup on it. She is looking a little tired.
#Miner'sRespite – August 5, 2014
In to the bar/inn/hotel/whatever-it-was wandered a quarian doctor, who looked very much the same as the last two times she'd been there. Perhaps only identifiable as a doctor by the medical bag she kept slung over one shoulder, the woman moved towards the bar, a pistol at her hip. That was a real contradiction, there. Something that saved lives on one side and something on the other that took them away...
Va'ynna looks over at the quarian approaching for a moment before turning back to her glass. She didn't look the guest that's staying upstairs, but she haven't really been working at the bar since the shootout.
"What's got you so blue?" asked Zaan, who slid in to a stool at the bar, having to struggle for a moment so her odd legs could hook on to the supports just beneath it. The woman smoothed her hands over the top, looking up and down and then at the asari with blinking white eyes. "sorry, I couldn't resist," she admitted. The doctor didn't sound particularly friendly, but at least she was trying at conversation. "Something wrong?"
Va'ynna turns her gaze at the quarian with a tilted head. "Um, me? Blue?" she says. "No... nothing. Just a... bit tired." She picks up her glass and sips it.
"Oh, I see," she mentioned. "Any particular reason? I don't mean to pry, but that's what you do at these sort of places, hm?" Zaan gestured towards the bar with two three-fingered hands. "Make small talk."
Va'ynna looks unsure for a few seconds, then nods. "You... heard about the shooting outside here, right?" she says. "I... was working at the bar when that... happened."
"Oh, yes, that," she answered, shrugging. "I see. Well, you weren't hurt, were you? Lost a loved one?" The doctor slowly blinked, hands folding on the bartop.
Va'ynna shakes her head. "No... body in here were hurt," she says, "but... it was still frightening." She looks down for a moment, frowning, "especially when I heard one of them... had gotten inside."
"Keep a weapon under the counter, maybe," she suggested, shrugging again. "Or hire security. It's not like the city isn't crawling with mercenaries. Can I buy you a drink?"
Va'ynna raises her brows at first, then smiles. "You... you don't have to," she says, not sure if she wanted to burden the stranger. "We do have... security, and four others... volunteered to help him secure... this place. I..." A sheepish smile follows. "I can barely use... a gun."
"It's never too late to learn," she said, pulling up her omni-tool a moment and tapping away at something or another. "Though, if you're trying to drown your sorrows, water's the wrong drink for that." She smirked. "Let me know if you change your mind. Have you, ah, have you seen another quarian woman around here today?"
Gregorij comes down the stairs - Anna at his side as always. He is looking rather troubled, and his gaze is low. After reaching the floor he lets go of the mech and starts moving towards the bar, taking a seat on the first stool available and putting his right hand to his temple, eyes closed.
Va'ynna shakes her head. "I... haven't seen her today," she says, "if... you're talking about the one staying here. I was, um, hoping to see her, since... I think D'Inea invited her for an interview."
"Oh, right," she answered, watching the new patron head their way. "The interview." Two of the doctor's fingers drummed along the bartop again and she nodded, slowly. "I hope she gets it."
Gregorij lets out a low grunt and speaks in a commanding tone, without looking around for Va'ynna. "Vodka."
Aylena looks up from her terminal as Gregorij approaches, making her way over to him. "Right away," she says as she moves over to fetch the bottle, taking a few seconds to decide between two bottles. She returns with some Aitian human-made vodka, and pours a glass before setting the bottle down under the counter.
Va'ynna nods. "Yeah, she seemed... friendly," she says. "I worked here when she... and... an asari checked in." She looks thoughtful, and unsure for a moment. "I... didn't know if I could serve her... water." A sheepish smile follows.
She chuckled. "Water's fine," the doctor promised. "Just don't go serving us human energy drinks." Zaan smirked, though she couldn't see it. "Well, my offer still stands, if you want that drink. Good way to break the ice, I think.
Gregorij grabs the glass and starts downing the drink rather swiftly. The glass is soon slammed down loudly against the bar as he lets out a groan, eyes still closed.
Aylena frowns, glancing at the glass, but she doesn't comment as the glass did not take any visible danage from it.
Va'ynna nods. "Yes... please, just nothing too strong," she says, looking a little embarrased. "I... did ask miss Nahl if her suit... would filter it, but she couldn't say. It's... approved for both levo and turian consumption."
"If it's good for turians, then it's good for us," she said. "Go ahead, pick what you'd like. I'm not sure what asari drink."
Gregorij sits in silence for a while, before opening his eyes and glancing to his side when he realizes there's a quarian there. He feels around his jacket's pockets to make sure everything is still there and then refills his glass, shooting Zaan a suspicious glance or two.
Anna is standing around near the wall, rather than sitting with Gregorij as is often the case. The mech's gaze is moving from patron to patron - and the door every now and then.
Va'ynna looks up at the drink menu, looking a little indecisive. "I... don't drink... much," she says, "but... some asari-made brandy would be good. Not Serrice Ice," she makes sure to specify, she would never let anyone buy her that.
She chuckled and nodded, looking past the asari at Gregorji for just a moment. One nice thing about being a quarian? Being able to observe the room or make faces at people without drawing attention to yourself. They were killer poker players, too. "An asari brandy, I suppose," she said to whoever had been tending the bar. "Not Serrice Ice."
Aylena chuckles, having overheard their conversation. "Right away," she begins. "Anything else?" She makes her way off to find the bottle, still remaining within earshot of the quarian.
"I think that's it," she admitted. "I don't feel like digging out a straw right now." Zaan hadn't come to the bar to drink, then. Maybe just searching for someone...
Aylena returns to the bar, and pours a glass of it before placing it before Va'ynna. "Shout if you change your mind, then," she says with a smirk before moving over to the nearest terminal to resume her work.
Va'ynna takes the glass, inspeciting it's content carefully. "Thank you," she says with a small smile before taking a tentaive sip of it.
"Don't mention it," she told her. "So what is it you do, then? You're a bar-tender? There seem to be an awful lot of asari here."
Va'ynna glances over to the human down the bar before looking back at the quarian. "Bartending, cooking, housekeeping,... sometimes taking inventory when we get... a delivery," she begns. "There's.. just three of us working here, if... you count D'Inea. The third... he's a human, but he's not out here anymore."
Gregorij chuckles to himself and mumbles something inappropriate about asari. After this he immediately makes an apologetic gesture at Anna - although the mech clearly lacks the capacity to care.
She nodded and sighed. "I should probably get going," the quarian admitted. "I don't think I'm going to find what I came looking for. If you see Shyva, can you let her know that Zaan was looking for her? That's my name, by the way."
Va'ynna nods. "I'll... keep that in mind," she says, looking back at her drink. "Thanks again, for... the drink." She didn't seem to react to Gregorij's muttering, possibly not hearing it clear enough to discern what he said.
"It's not a problem," she said, sticking her hands in to the pockets of her "jacket." Zaan looked left and right then at the human who'd been eyeballing her before turning to head back out again. Maybe she'd try later.
Va'ynna remains at the bar, not looking after the departing quarian. She keeps her gaze forward, not paying any attention to other patrons.
Gregorij continues to drink in silence after the quarians departure, occasionally cradling his head in his hand or mumbling to himself.
Aylena looks up from her terminal, glancing around to see if anyone needs service. She sees none, and returns to her work.
Steve steps through the door behind the counter, letting out a loud yawn as he does. He gives a quick rub at his eyes and moves over towards the counter. "Evenin' boss." he says as he passes Aylena, "Good night so far, huh? Nobodies been shot yet." he teases.
Gregorij looks up slightly as he hears Steve's voice, gaze following the fellow human briefly before returning to his drink.
Aylena nods, tapping on her terminal a few times to log out. "It's been slow," she says, turning towards him. "I'm not complaining, though. I go a chance to get paperwork done between drinks."
Steve begins refilling his glass with water at the sink. He eyes a bottle of whiskey with a longing look in his eyes. "Well, there's still plenty of time for hell to break loose." he sighs, resting his eyes on Gregorij, "Keep an eye on this one. He's a grade-A assassin of fine china."
Gregorij aims a poorly coordinated, but sufficiently rude gesture at Steve before downing the contents of his glass.
Aylena smirks, but doesn't comment on it. "That's what I keep you around for," she says. "Can't say I remember hiring the entire bunch, though." She pauses. "Give them my thanks when you see them."
Steve winks at Gregorij and sets his glass on the counter with a smirk. "They just happened to be in the right place at the right time." he says, dragging his glass across the top of the counter, stopping just short of Va'ynna, "But I'll be sure to give 'em your gratitude."
Va'ynna looks up at him with a tiny smile after sipping her drink. "Hey, Steve," she says. "How... are you?"
Gregorij looks over at the others - taking a moment to focus before speaking - slipping in to an accent at random points. "What was that... commotion? Woke me up."
Steve begins fishing through a compartment on his hardsuit as he responds to the asari, "Not bad. Bit tired, though. Didn't get much sleep last night. What about you?" he asks, returning his attention to the asari as he produces a small pill bottle and begins twisting off the cap, "Not used to seeing you on that side of the counter."
Aylena nods. "I'll make sure it doesn't go unnoticed," she says. "I recognize only half of them, though. Ms T'Iavay and the salarian -- don't know his name." She notices another patron signaling for her, and makes her way over to serve him.
Va'ynna glances at her drink. "I... didn't get much, either," she says. "D'Inea gave me a few days off... bartending. I... work in the kitchen if there's... enough work there."
Steve glances towards Greg as he tosses the pills into his mouth. "Bit of a fight erupted just outside." he says, gesturing towards the door with his glass of water in-hand, "Nothing to worry about. We handled it." he adds before slugging back a healthy amount of the water and swallowing hard. He turns back to Va'ynna and leans against the counter, "Days off, and you decide to spend them here... Where you work..."
Va'ynna glances down at the counter as a sheepish smile forms. "I... didn't... want to sit alone in my room," she says, "and... well, I'm... I don't feel safe going outside."
Steve shrugs, "Well, you need to change that. Gotta stop being so timid- stop being so scared of everything." he says before taking another sip of his water. "Ya know, when I was a kid, I was deathly afraid of the dark?" he says with a nod, "Swear on my life. Would sleep with my bedroom light on." he chuckles, "My folks would try to sneak in after I'd clonk out and turn off my light, but I always knew. My eyes would shoot open and I'd start screamin' bloody murder."
Va'ynna tilts her head, a tiny smile creeping up as she imagines his story, although she looks a little embarrased. "Was? How... did you get over it?"
Gregorij is refilling his glass as he hears Steve's story, causing him to drop the bottle and spill vodka over the bar as the bottle rolls away. He quickly picks it up and stands it back up, cursing and muttering and apology as he makes a poor attempt at wiping the alcohol up with the sleeve of his jacket.
Aylena sighs, reaching out for a cloth near the sink and soaks it. After getting the excess water out of it, she places it on the counter-top. "Try this, should be much better than your sleeve," she says with a smirk, before moving over to another patron that's intending to order a drink.
Gregorij mumbles incoherently and grabs the cloth to clean up the spilled drink. He looks rather distraught.
Steve glances over at Greg before continuing on with his story. "Oh, it stuck with me well into my teenage years. Can you imagine that? Was pretty embarrassing... Anyway, I found myself in a place that didn't really give a shit what you were afraid of." he says, his smile slowly fading away, "Was a-... well, let's just call it a military camp for kids. I was up half the night, scared shitless. Only sleep I got during my first few months there was due to exhaustion. The instructors..." he sighs, a frown crossing his face as he recalls the experience, "...They were just cruel. Humiliated me. But one night, one of the instructors-..." he snorts and gives a slight shake of his head, "...I don't know if it was a moment of kindness, or if maybe he was just tired of dealing with me being a little bitch... He sat me down and told me I needed to let that fear go, because they were going to make damn sure I was the scariest thing in the dark." he bites his lower lip for a moment as he studies the asari, "You gotta learn to take care of yourself."
Gregorij gets up, unsteadily, and moves off as soon as Anna comes to support him. He leaves the rest of his drink behind.
Va'ynna listens patiently to his story before glancing towards the exit. "Oh...," she says. "That... was a place for... kids?" She frowns. "I... don't know if I can... go alone outside. Jason offered me to come with him to the... shooting range, but I don't think I'll... ever shoot anyone if I... had to."
Steve shrugs, "Then you're always gonna be a victim." he says matter-of-factly. "Take Jason up on his offer. Learn to shoot, get yourself a gun, and take care of yourself." He sighs and rotates his glass of water idly, "I saw the footage from that day. I know they put the fear of-... of whatever it is you people believe in, into you. But they're not keepin' you in this place, you are. Stop being a victim."
Va'ynna looks at the counter. "I don't... want to become one," she mutters. "I... I did take his offer."
Va'ynna titls her head as she looks up at him. "A... piece? If... you mean weapon, yes," she says. "It's... a cheap pistol, but I didn't know they used... clips." A sheepish smile follows.
Steve chuckles, "Well, not sure what you're workin' with, but I've got a spare Predator up in my room. Lifted it off one of the attackers the other night. Could hook you up with a couple thermal clips, too. I can always restock over at the agency, let them foot the cost."
Va'ynna looks thoughtful for a moment. "I... um, think that's the pistol I bought," she says with a small smile, "but... yeah, I could use some clips. I... didn't need them when I last... visited a range years ago."
Not a problem. Just stop by my room when I get off duty and we'll get you locked and loaded. Speakin' of which... How's that vid?
Va'ynna smiles. "Thank you." She picks up her drink and takes a sip. "It like it," she says. "I think I'll... finish watching it tomorrow. I... did go with Jason to a repair shop to get mine... fixed, but I haven't heard from them, yet."
Steve gives a shrug, "I won't need mine back any time soon, so it's no rush. Just finish it at your own pace."
Va'ynna nods. "Tomorrow is... my last day... mostly off," she says. "I'll have enough time to watch it. I... I'll probably be in the break room, since I feel safer there with the viewer on."
Steve frowns. "You don't even feel safe in your own room?" he asks as he brings his forearm up and begins looking over his omni-tool to check the security feeds momentarily.
Va'ynna shakes her head. "Yeah, but...," she says, "I've... been afraid of letting it... distract all senses when I'm... alone. Since... the shooting."
Steve stares at Va'ynna for a few moments silently. "I... See...." he says, "And you don't worry about that in the break room?"
Va'ynna takes another sip of her drink, looking thoughtful. "I trust... you and D'Inea to... warn me if there's trouble," she says with a small smile.
Steve sighs and shakes his head. "Damn... What about sleeping? With this much worry on your mind, how do you sleep?"
Va'ynna frowns, looking at the counter. "Yeah," she mutters. "I... can't help it." She hears her omni-tool's call notificiation and raises an eyebrow. "I got to take this," she says, standing up. "I'll see you again, Steve."
Steve shrugs and straightens up his posture. "Do what ya gotta do." he says, giving the asari a nod, "Don't forget about picking up those clips." he reminds her.
Va'ynna drinks the remainder of her drink (about a third), which evokes a weak cough despite being a rather mild drink. "I won't," she says. "Thank you." She makes her way upstairs to her room without lingering any longer.
Steve scoops up his glass of water and slowly walks towards the door leading back to his office, giving Aylena a quick nod on his way.