11-28-2024, 01:17 AM
There was a smirk on Mara’s lips as Ju couldn’t contain the treacherous laugh at the mention of the glitter. She was happy to see the younger woman able to laugh. For a while earlier, it had looked worryingly like she was going to have to abuse her access-all-areas privileges to drag the Engineer out of her quarters.
And I’d have done it as well. Kickin’ and screamin’ if needs be.
The smirk was still there as Ju defended her part in Glittergate. The Bandaran hadn’t been there for that but she’d heard the stories. It sounded for the most part like harmless fun, and it had also given wind-up merchants like the Security Chief enough ammunition to keep going for months.
“So, bring it on, Calleja, I’ll drink your poison.”
“My poison? Oh, the stuff you get around here ain’t my poison,” Mara replied with a grin. “Although that’s probably a good thing. Even the moonshine Engineerin’ produces when they think I’m not lookin’ is more refined than what we turn out on Bandar. You can run engines on Bandaran vodka. Definitely wouldn’t advise drinkin’ it. Although the brain damage might help you forget Serial Sparkler,” she quipped.
There was a faint growl from the Amazonian COS’ stomach.
“That’s me givin’ me a message,” Mara added. “I got a need to feed. Give me a sec, I’ll go scare us up some dinner and you somethin’ strong.” She paused. “Not literally scare. Well. Probably not, anyway,” she added with a feral smile as she stood up and headed over to the bar.
She was greeted by a barman almost immediately.
I guess rank does have its privileges…
“Chief Calleja,” he said with a nod.
“Hey up,” she replied. “Can you sort out some food for me an’ Ju please? I’ll take a ribeye steak, medium rare, and some hot wings. I like ‘em hot enough to enjoy the heat, but I ain’t dumb enough to ask for somethin’ that’ll take the paint off the hull. And… I should have asked, but I’m gonna take a guess. Beef bulgogi for my friend.”
The barman nodded as he tapped away on a PADD.
“And to drink?”
“Pint of lemonade for me. And she did ask… Some of your finest ‘shine.”
“I couldn’t possibly serve anyone real alcohol. We do offer synthahol…”
Mara’s barking laugh interrupted the sales pitch.
“You can cut that out,” she said with a good-natured grin. “I know you serve real alcohol. I know about most of the shipments Morgan makes that aren’t on the official manifest, and I know where most of the stills are on this ship. Hell, I’ve been makin’ sure they keep runnin’ with Elias out of the picture. I’m not a tyrant, I got no issue with people havin’ a drink. The moment we start gettin’ drunk morons gobbin’ off, I’ll chuck every bottle and barrel out an airlock myself. But until then, long as you keep it discrete, you haven’t gotta worry about me. We clear?”
The barman held out a hand and Mara shook it firmly.
“Deal,” he said. “We just needed to know what kind of Chief you were going to be. We were pretty sure, but still. It pays to be careful. I’ll bring your drinks and food over in a few minutes.”
“Thank you. Good man yourself.”
As she walked back to the table, Calleja couldn’t help but smile. She’d worked hard to cultivate a good relationship with Support. She greased the wheels for them occasionally, and in turn they made her life significantly easier. Morgan was an actual wizard when it came to procurement and distribution and she had her department well drilled.
Thumping back into the chair, Mara grinned.
“Right. Food and drink comin’. You wanted somethin’ strong, they’re gonna oblige,” she said. “Whilst we’re waitin’. You got a big family waitin’ for you back home?” the Security Chief asked. “You mentioned brothers multiple.”
== Tag! ==
And I’d have done it as well. Kickin’ and screamin’ if needs be.
The smirk was still there as Ju defended her part in Glittergate. The Bandaran hadn’t been there for that but she’d heard the stories. It sounded for the most part like harmless fun, and it had also given wind-up merchants like the Security Chief enough ammunition to keep going for months.
“So, bring it on, Calleja, I’ll drink your poison.”
“My poison? Oh, the stuff you get around here ain’t my poison,” Mara replied with a grin. “Although that’s probably a good thing. Even the moonshine Engineerin’ produces when they think I’m not lookin’ is more refined than what we turn out on Bandar. You can run engines on Bandaran vodka. Definitely wouldn’t advise drinkin’ it. Although the brain damage might help you forget Serial Sparkler,” she quipped.
There was a faint growl from the Amazonian COS’ stomach.
“That’s me givin’ me a message,” Mara added. “I got a need to feed. Give me a sec, I’ll go scare us up some dinner and you somethin’ strong.” She paused. “Not literally scare. Well. Probably not, anyway,” she added with a feral smile as she stood up and headed over to the bar.
She was greeted by a barman almost immediately.
I guess rank does have its privileges…
“Chief Calleja,” he said with a nod.
“Hey up,” she replied. “Can you sort out some food for me an’ Ju please? I’ll take a ribeye steak, medium rare, and some hot wings. I like ‘em hot enough to enjoy the heat, but I ain’t dumb enough to ask for somethin’ that’ll take the paint off the hull. And… I should have asked, but I’m gonna take a guess. Beef bulgogi for my friend.”
The barman nodded as he tapped away on a PADD.
“And to drink?”
“Pint of lemonade for me. And she did ask… Some of your finest ‘shine.”
“I couldn’t possibly serve anyone real alcohol. We do offer synthahol…”
Mara’s barking laugh interrupted the sales pitch.
“You can cut that out,” she said with a good-natured grin. “I know you serve real alcohol. I know about most of the shipments Morgan makes that aren’t on the official manifest, and I know where most of the stills are on this ship. Hell, I’ve been makin’ sure they keep runnin’ with Elias out of the picture. I’m not a tyrant, I got no issue with people havin’ a drink. The moment we start gettin’ drunk morons gobbin’ off, I’ll chuck every bottle and barrel out an airlock myself. But until then, long as you keep it discrete, you haven’t gotta worry about me. We clear?”
The barman held out a hand and Mara shook it firmly.
“Deal,” he said. “We just needed to know what kind of Chief you were going to be. We were pretty sure, but still. It pays to be careful. I’ll bring your drinks and food over in a few minutes.”
“Thank you. Good man yourself.”
As she walked back to the table, Calleja couldn’t help but smile. She’d worked hard to cultivate a good relationship with Support. She greased the wheels for them occasionally, and in turn they made her life significantly easier. Morgan was an actual wizard when it came to procurement and distribution and she had her department well drilled.
Thumping back into the chair, Mara grinned.
“Right. Food and drink comin’. You wanted somethin’ strong, they’re gonna oblige,” she said. “Whilst we’re waitin’. You got a big family waitin’ for you back home?” the Security Chief asked. “You mentioned brothers multiple.”
== Tag! ==