Shore Leave: The Bar

Moira makes a low humming noise. It’s odd, but Kosher. Maybe Darcy’s looking to transfer. The Luna Moth certainly seems to need it. She’ll see if she can check on her during the barbecue. If this security breach ever clears. She puts her tablet away and looks at Nic.


So like, is "old friend" true or polite? Cuz fer all tha time ah’ve known yeh, yeh’ve been vague, patronizing, an tryin’ ya discount Cass’s accomplishments. Yeh honestly think anyone in Spacefleet doesn’t have stories? It’s like yer usin’ Tha ancient earth courtship technique of "negging". If yeh like ‘er, there are better ways.

No offense Nic, but I prefer to make my own impressions. I am sure the evening will give me lots of opportunities to do so.

She sips her drink

Besides, I haven't been hired yet.

After visiting the restroom, Cass is still restless, antsy. Embarrassed that she learned that Darcy was attempting to hire a new officer from the candidate instead of through proper channels, her emotions keep shifting from anger, betrayal, confusion, and concern. She'd thought that she and Darcy had reached a state of mutual respect and some level of trust, and it's jarring to realize that Cass has possibly misjudged that.

Oh, and Nic is at this moment telling what might be her new security chief what a screw-up Cass was back at the Academy. What a great shore leave this is turning out to be.

Stepping out of the restroom, she finds the noise level of the bar unpleasant - the additional patrons, nervous about their reason for being here and happy to be offered a free drink, have altered the dynamic of the establishment. Or maybe it's just Cass' own emotional turmoil that's changed her perspective.

To her left is a back door marked "Exit." It might do some good for her to step out and get a little air before going back to the booth to do damage control. She opens the door and steps outside. The air is clear and balmy and the din from the bar gone completely. She leans against the building, closing her eyes, and thinks more rationally about what's happening. Whatever Nic might be saying, he's saying with affection. Her crew members know who she really is, at this point in time. Her potential recruit can make up her own mind. And Darcy must have a good reason for what she's doing. They'll discuss it like rational people tonight at the barbecue.

Ready to face things again, Cass pushes the button to open the back door.

It's locked.

Sighing, Cass figures she'll just have to walk around to the front. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her shorts, her right hand brushes the comm badge Cass had failed to return to Alira. She makes a note to give it back to her as soon as she gets back to the booth.

She heads down the alley, intent on turning the corner and making her way back to the front door of Stone's.

Grinning sheepishly, Cass says, "Sorry! I stepped out for a moment of fresh air and couldn't get back inside. I was about to walk around to the front door. Didn't mean to trouble you."

Her impulse is to shake her head and tell him everything's fine. That's what she's told everyone for the last few weeks, with the exception of the counselor she saw on the starbase and Alex yesterday on the beach. Everything isn't fine, of course, but few people want to hear that, and she doesn't want most people to know it. Can't afford for them to know it.

Stone seems like a good guy, but she doesn't know him. So she opens her mouth to tell him that everything's fine, and says, "I'm not really sure who I am, or who I want to be."

Well. Fuck.

With Nic

It’s cute that yeh think yeh can insult me, laddie.

She smiles warmly. Time to turn his logic against him.

Did it ever occur ta yeh that we dunnae know these stories about Cass because she doesn’t want us ta? Yeh say yeh care about her. That includes respectin’ her privacy.

She leans forward casually. But what would Ah know. Ah’m jest a woman who "doesn’t care much fer Latinum."

Outside

Cass hesitates, still shocked at her admission to a complete stranger, before she chuckles a little. She leans back against the wall, too. "I'm not sure anyone can actually influence Moira. She knows exactly who she is and what she wants."

Speaking of, Moira calls after Nic.

Yer required ta stay inside! It’s a lockdown!

She shrugs and looks at Alira.

Ah can see why he left Spacefleet. Never learned ta channel his ego. Dunnae get me wrong. Ego’s Important. But still....

She sighs. She tried.

So, yeh’ll be spendin’ more time with us, eh? Still want ta?

Nothing I have seen makes me want to change my mind. A crew that sticks together, stands up for each other, but can still joke with each other? Yeah that's a terrible work environment.

Alira chuckles and takes a sip.

But nothing is decided yet, and I think I surprised the captain. So the question is more likely, am I still wanted.

What a cad...

Dunnae worry about it, Alira. Things have been wild lately. Ah’m sure that if she gets that chance, Cassano will approve yeh.

Outside

That makes Cass laugh outright. "I guess she hasn't had a chance to really catch up with you yet." When he looks questioningly at her, she explains. "She's transitioning right now to becoming a ship's counselor. That kid we were having lunch with earlier is going to be her instructor."

She sighs. "Our last mission didn't go so well. Moira made a mistake in the heat of the moment that resulted in someone being badly injured. I don't know if that was the tipping point for her - a lot of bad-luck things happened after that, too. But ultimately, she decided that she was ready for a career change."