#Miner'sRespite – November 15, 2015

Skythix | It was raining tonight in Freedom Falls, so many people in town sought refuge inside of establishments such as the Respite. Skythix was sitting alone at the bar of the Respite. Even though the bar area had plenty of patrons around, most of them seemed to be avoiding the turian with a dark cloud over her head. She was clutching a glass in one hand and resting the other against

Zaylus steps into the Respite, clad in the same dull armor as before. He steps casually toward the bar, gaze sweeping over the seated patrons. Upon careful observation, it's clear he's softing the swing of one arm, but otherwise appears normal and relaxed. His gait breaks and he pauses as he notices the turian woman, but quickly leans back into his step toward her. Before taking an

Skythix did a slow double-take at Zaylus when he came over as if she were entranced and wasn't even sure if she heard someone at first glance. Her clothes were bone dry, like she had been inside for a very long time considering the current weather. "Zaylus," She said, trying to muster a smile to her face but it only stayed for a brief moment but her mandibles drooped down. She looked

Zaylus slides onto the seat next to her, meeting her tired gaze. He seems unfazed by the spots of water still clinging to him. "Yeah." He nods slightly, "Good as new." He looks down to the counter, bringing a hand up to rest there. "I hope things might... cool down now. For Redrock. It's not usually like this." He manages half a grin, giving her a sideways look. He shifts a little in

Skythix lolled her head to the side while she listened to Zaylus talk. She was concentrating most of her efforts on staying upright and making sure she didn't grip her glass of alcohol too tightly. "That's good. We can all use a break, I think." Even though she was clearly not all there, she could still see him acting strange. "Quit fidgetting." She said with a tired voice. "You look

Zaylus straightened up as she spoke, flattening his hand against the counter. He let out a quiet snort, relieved and somewhat surprised to be wrong about what he had assumed when he'd seen the turian. Echoing her chuckle, he beckons the bartender, requesting the turian ale he'd grown partial to, mostly because he was positive it wouldn't kill him. Back to Skythix, he manages to hold

Skythix was flat out staring at Zaylus now while he was ordering his drink. It was a blank look that changed when she started leering at him with narrowed eyes. She didn't speak but her drunk mind was racing on what he said. It felt like her body locked up and she couldn't look away. Unwinding... "That's not really the word I'd use for it." She said with a sad tone. She finally broke

Zaylus raises a browplate, uncertain of her actions, but eventually chalks it up to drunken quirks. His grin does fade mostly, and he leans heavily against the counter before giving a small shrug. "It's alright, kind of a ways to go. But sometimes you want to drink with people you know, and this place is familiar as anything." He murmurs, looking around the venue. "I actually thought

Skythix didn't look up from her glass. "I hate bars." She said before taking another sip from her glass. She moved her other hand to cup the glass as if were bringing her warmth. She gave him a side-long glance but didn't turn her head towards him. The only reason she was here was because it was close to her small apartment and she didn't have anything at home to self-medicate with.

Zaylus lets his expression fade, noding once in understanding. "No, I bet it doesn't." He sighs quietly, pulling his drink in close to him as it's brought out. After a sip and a moment of quiet, he speaks up. "I won't ask, if you don't want me to. I'm sure you've done enough explaining back there." He offers, assuming she understands his meaning. "I can respect anyone's desire to drink

Skythix shook her head slowly. "Halisi didn't have anyone on hand for me to talk to about it, not that I really wanted to." She said before swallowing hard. "I'm guessing you saw what happened last week then." It didn't sound like a question, more of a shameful admittance. She didn't want to stew on this any longer than she already had but it wasn't easy to talk about. Being drunk didn't

Zaylus processes quietly while Skythix speaks, taking a small sip from his glass. Though he doesn't fully understand, there is a hint of sympathy in his gaze, even venturing into guilt. "I'm sorry." He murmurs. He toys with the glass with one hand, taking an extra moment to consider his words, aware of himself as someone to misspeak. "That must've been hard." He replies flatly, flinching

Skythix didn't really know what else to say. She never admitted to weakness and yet here she was, in a place she hated being doing a thing she hated doing. She always thought of alcoholics as weaklings who didn't know how to handle their own lives. My, how additudes change over the years. She nodded solemnly at Zaylus before looking back down at her drink. "Please, stay." She paused,

Zaylus nods, "I'll stay." He promises, trying his best to appear relaxed. Even if it wasn't his own vulnerability, the genuine sentimentality of it all was unfamiliar, though admittedly warm. As his own mind raced, he too thought back on their return trip from the station. Sufficiently battered, it had been a huge relief to find comfort in another person. He wouldn't forget that. "We

Skythix nodded with a quick smile that seemed to disappear quickly. She then looked like she had been thinking about something if her spaced out look was anything to go by. However, once Zaylus asked her about Jason and Vasquez, she let out a groan and dropped her head to the bar counter a little harder than she meant to. The loud thud sounded painful. "No, I haven't. If Vasquez doesn't

Zaylus frowns, wincing as her face meets the counter. "I think the mere fact that he hasn't killed you already is a good sign." He replies, half sarcastically as he takes another drink. Then he reaches out to rest a hand on her shoulder, more serious now. "Hey, you're part of the reason she's even here now. I don't think Jason's likely to forget that." He offers, hoping that he is as

Skythix didn't think that was really any consolation. To her, the entire squad brought her back. She was just a disposable soldier who was along for the ride. It was bad enough that she had her little... episode. Attacking her boss was probably the next worst thing she could have done. "He's probably just sharpening a blade for a really, reeeally long time to make sure it does the job."

Zaylus watches her with barely hidden amusement, catching the attention of a bartender incase her attempt hadn't been too sucessful. Though he had felt confident before, there was a twinge of doubt. As desperate as Redrock had been, surely there was a limit. A few unexplained absenses were one thing, this he could not be certain of. "I trust Jason." He tried to sound hopeful, letting

Skythix suddenly missed having the physical contact as soon as she didn't have it. She then gave Zaylus a suspicious look. "Trust him to stab me in the front and not the back?" She asked in a rediculous tone that sounded like drunk ramblings. She picked up her new glass of alcohol from the bartender and pointed a talon at Zaylus. "I'm on to you two." She narrowed her green eyes, staring

Zaylus raises a browplate, grinning with amusement. "Uh huh, I can't get anything past you." He remarks, watching her sway uneasily. "I'll be sure to let him know that. You plan on staying in that seat, right Skythix?" He gives a questioning look, preparing to steady the inebriated turian lest she threaten to fall. If he wasn't much for conversation he could at least keep her off the

Skythix laughed and took another drink. Her mood seemed to be improving over time. Whether that was from the drink or just the conversation, it was anyone's guess. "Not unless you plan on taking me off of it." She chuckled darkly with a low purr in her voice. "You even still got scales under that armor, Zaylus?" She poked a finger sloppily against his chest.

Zaylus chuckles lightly, shaking his head and shifting a bit at the touch. "You're long gone, Teratus." He laughs, gently pushing her hand away. "Take it easy, huh? You still have to manage your way home somehow. Spirits help you." He jokes, definitely too sober to respond in kind.

Skythix flicked her wrist at Zaylus. "What are you talking about? This is my home!" She said, pointing exaggeratedly at the glass in her hands. "Besiiiiiides... It's not like it matters anyway. Jason's gonna fuckin' fire me once he sees me." She said while making a rude sound with her mouth before leaning against the bar with her elbows. The forelorn look was back to her face as she

Zaylus begins to frown, "Quick talkin like that." He urges her, "nothing's for certain." Tired of trying to convince the turian so set in her woes, he doesn't bother to go on. Instead he adresses her last thought, an amused snort coming from him. "Please, Skythix." He counters cheerily, "I've got nowhere to go but up." He tosses back the rest of his drink, shaking off the ensuing burn.

Skythix turned her head to Zaylus when he started speaking. "Oh, what. You're down here at rock bottom, too? What exactly did you do to fuck up that bad? Remember, I had a psychotic breakdown and nearly killed my boss after getting discharged from the military for being 'too good at my job'." She said the last part mockingly. That wasn't the reason at all but she was drunk and she

Zaylus set his jaw, eyes narrowing back into half opened disinterest. He looked off behind her, holding himself very still. "Don't do that." He mutters, teeth threatening to clench. Shaking his head, he repeats in a lowered voice. "Don't do that. There's no comfort there." His turns to her, pain showing before defensive anger can take its place. He quickly rises, but hesitates to leave

Skythix looked up suddenly at Zaylus as he stood up. She immediately regretted the motion as her vision spun but she concentrated on the words in her head. "Woah woah, hey. Calm down, Zaylus. I was--..." She paused, cringing as her stomach suddenly started feeling volatile. "I was just kidding. I don't even know what you're talking about." She reached out a hand to try and pull him back

Zaylus watches with tired, narrowed eyes. Again he guides her hand away, "You've probably had enough." He observes briskly, making no effort to sit again. "You should get home." Whether she was drunkenly backpedalling or not, he had little interest in staying, nor letting her stew at this bar counter.

Skythix felt a flash of anger at being denied like this but her mind switched quickly to just sadness. She knew deep down that she was far gone but what the hell did she say that pissed him off this much? It almost felt unwarrented but she was too drunk to be able to tell the difference. "I don't even think I could... I guess I can call a cab." She paused and blinked at the floor.

Zaylus softened his gaze for a moment, a pange of sympathy returning. He had to admit he could be sensitive, and the massively inebriated Skythix couldn't have meant harm. Either way, he decided, she had certainly had enough for one night. "I... don't actually know." He pondered for a moment, "How far is the place?"

Skythix swallowed down a little bile that rose to her throat. She probably already looked like a fool here in the Respite. She didn't want to excentuate that by vomiting on the floor. The least she could do was wait until she was home to be an embarrassment. She looked down at the ground with a sad look, unable to meet Zaylus' gaze anymore. "Two blocks west of here." She said simply,

Zaylus nods, glancing outside the Respite. "Two blocks? That's nothing." He decides, looking over the dejected woman. "Right?" He asks quietly, offering a steadying hand.

Skythix looked at the hand offered to her and sniffed. "I don't even know anymore." She said before taking the hand and trying to stand up. Problem with sitting for so long and drinking a lot was that once you stand up, you usually don't stay there for long. She couldn't keep her footing at all and collided with him, grabbing onto his shoulder to try and steady herself.

Zaylus seemed to have expected about as much, and had raised the other hand to steady her. He did have to step back to steady himself from falling backward, however, one hand holding her up at the waist. When they seemed reasonably stable again, he let out a deep chuckle. "Well, hello." Practical concern returning, he gave a small shake of the head. "Yeah, let's get you home."

Skythix felt weak having to be carried out of a bar because she got too sloppy but she knew she wasn't getting out alone. When Zaylus put his hand on her waist, she gave him a crooked smile that bared her teeth. "Hi there." She muttered before starting to try and walk out of the Respite. "I'm trying, but they keep moving the floor around." She blinked a few times as she felt her stomach

Zaylus seemed to be holding a grin just below the surface, amusement again mixing with concern. "Those bastards. I'll have a word with them later." He replied evenly, doing his best to support her as they had done before, then pressing on out into the gloomy streets.