01-18-2025, 05:20 AM
It was a rare moment for Alex. He wasn't in uniform, but in what might be considered a business casual sort of mood. No matter how much he was attempting to blend in, his size and how he carried himself made him stand out. The fit of his clothes and his confidence reflected that even in a culture that spoke so much of being a moneyless society, he had come from a life of wealth and status. His trying to downplay it only made him come across as someone trying to hide. He went to the bar and ordered a mix drink and a shot, then paid for it with enough latinum to get a large smile from the barmaid.
Taking his drink and shot, Alex found himself a table along a wall that had less light. Sliding in, he looked more like a brooding drug lord than an elite Federation scientist. Sipping at his drink, he stared at the shot in front of him. The expression on his face was one of focused debate. His hand slowly turned the shot glass round and round, but didn't pick it up. A few times, he lifted his gaze to glance around the bar, but not really seeing the people there. To those who knew him, it was rare to see him by himself. While on the ship, he was ether following up with his people and moving with them from place to place, or someone was following him, ever at his elbow and trying to gain his attention for some matter that required his input or approval. No matter where he was on the ship, it was almost certain that there would be someone else there as well. He was known to sneak away to a holodeck now and then, but it rarely lasted long.
When the barmaid came by to refresh his drink, he noticed it was the same one that had served him initially. His generous tip had worked and he had not needed to wave one down, she had come looking for him. He gave a polite smile and thanked her again, another tip keeping that sparkle in her eye. He then gestured for her to lean closer and instructed her to not accept payment for drinks from any of the crew of the Aquila. Their drinks were to be charged to him, but who was paying for the drinks was not to be disclosed. She quickly verified that he indeed had an account with them and understood the VIP rating it held. For her trouble, she was compensated yet again, enough that she blushed and worried what he might ask of her next. Alex simply grinned and then told her that was all for now.
He had stopped focusing on the shot glass in front of him and instead had leaned back and was lost in other thoughts. This time it was the ring on his finger that he was turning. Like many patrons of the establishment, he was dwelling on memories and thinking about his future while slowly savoring some real alcohol.
Taking his drink and shot, Alex found himself a table along a wall that had less light. Sliding in, he looked more like a brooding drug lord than an elite Federation scientist. Sipping at his drink, he stared at the shot in front of him. The expression on his face was one of focused debate. His hand slowly turned the shot glass round and round, but didn't pick it up. A few times, he lifted his gaze to glance around the bar, but not really seeing the people there. To those who knew him, it was rare to see him by himself. While on the ship, he was ether following up with his people and moving with them from place to place, or someone was following him, ever at his elbow and trying to gain his attention for some matter that required his input or approval. No matter where he was on the ship, it was almost certain that there would be someone else there as well. He was known to sneak away to a holodeck now and then, but it rarely lasted long.
When the barmaid came by to refresh his drink, he noticed it was the same one that had served him initially. His generous tip had worked and he had not needed to wave one down, she had come looking for him. He gave a polite smile and thanked her again, another tip keeping that sparkle in her eye. He then gestured for her to lean closer and instructed her to not accept payment for drinks from any of the crew of the Aquila. Their drinks were to be charged to him, but who was paying for the drinks was not to be disclosed. She quickly verified that he indeed had an account with them and understood the VIP rating it held. For her trouble, she was compensated yet again, enough that she blushed and worried what he might ask of her next. Alex simply grinned and then told her that was all for now.
He had stopped focusing on the shot glass in front of him and instead had leaned back and was lost in other thoughts. This time it was the ring on his finger that he was turning. Like many patrons of the establishment, he was dwelling on memories and thinking about his future while slowly savoring some real alcohol.