Re: Episode 6: Once More With Feeling
Kelly mulled over the meeting as they all strolled away. The dark skinned Nepleslian's ears pricked as the group's unique noise changed ever so slightly; that was just how tense he was feeling from that meeting. He expected to be yelled at for not doing a better job, not being there for the others when they needed him the most. This - this was different. The Man had humbled himself before flipping right back into business mode like nothing had happened. Kelly turned his head slightly as a faint change pricked his ears, noticing Async leaving the group for her own reasons, whatever they be. He almost opened his mouth but stopped.
'She's probably had enough of this shit...' he thought. Kelly wondered just how the others were faring, listening to what they had to say.
"I've been in worse spots where I knew even less to be honest guys." the lead test pilot decided to add in. "I guess I'm used to it at this point, but its all new to you. I always found that people on the high horse never like sharing." he paused before adding a wry smile. "No surprise there, right?" At that moment though, Victoria shattered his cool demeanor with comments regarding alcohol and sex. He sputtered for a moment, but stifled himself silent before forcing himself to look away, his eyes briefly falling on Shinji and Meena. The former of the two noticing and glancing back; they held it, but Kelly was the first to break it, glancing away, only to see Yoshiko's neck in a brace. Then the others, beleaguered and worn.
Guilt.
He did notice however, that Yoshiko's ears perked up at the Abwehran's words. Kelly flushed even more, though, thank the maker, it wasn't quite noticeable with his complexion; he couldn't tell if it was the mention of the Sex, or the Booze that got the young ex-neko's attention. "Er, yeah, good idea. I could use a drink right about now."
"No thanks. I got to sort out what I lost and didn't on the Atuan." Meena quietly spoke. It wouldn't have been surprising if nobody noticed her speaking before meekly slipping away.
"Sure!" Yoshiko beamed in positive delight at Victoria's offer. Yes. Yoshiko didn't notice. "I'd love to come!" Even though she had a thing around her neck preventing her from turning her head, she was as chipper as ever. Part of Kelly went something along the lines of
'Hnnnggg.' as he watched her bounce on her feet in delight. "Hey, Asyn - huh? Where'd she go?"
"I'm not sure myself. She looked like she wanted some alone time, so I didn't make a big deal of it." he replied.
"Aww! I'ma message her!" Yoshiko replied, reaching for her datapad despite being capable of transmissions. From his point, Kelly could make out what she was typing in before sending.
Code:
Asyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyync! We're going out to a bar, and Mark and Victoria say there'll be drinks and stuffs! Come with us!
"Hey, shou - " Kelly was suddenly cut off as Victoria ran a finger across his shoulders, making him perk up at the touch. "I'm coming! Y-yeah. I'm coming." he quickly replied to the new pilot.
"Shinji turned a mischevious eye towards Taela, a faint glint flickering between them. "No prob. Not gonna hold back this time, ya know?" the explosives expert smirked, bringing the wood end of a match up to his lips.
He didn't hold back.
*****
DAWN STATION
'HOLE IN THE WALL' BAR
TWO HOURS LATER
Kelly could see that Yoshiko had a sister or two, and they weren't holding still. Regardless, the Nepleslian held his liquor well despite this, and remained somewhat steady while sitting on his stool. Yoshiko, however, was another story entirely. "I wanna nother!" she mewled at Shinji.
"No, I'm cuttin you'off now!" he spoke sternly, shielding the bright, fizzy and
glowing drinks from her with an arm.
"Just, put more of the stuff in, in the thing. The thingy where the more stuffs goes in to! Pleeeeeaaaaaase!" the young Yamataian whined.
Code:
Just, put more of the stuff in, in the thing. The thingy where the more stuffs goes in to! Pleeeeeaaaaaase!
At the same time she spoke, Yoshiko had accidentally messaged Async, again, as spoken words and thoughts melded with electronic orders in the engineered brain of hers. Though her several messages asking Async to join them started out innocently (and coherently) at first, they stared to degenerate as Yoshiko imbibed more and more of Shinji's wild concoctions.
Kelly, halfway to downing another shot, decided against it as he watched the young pilot. The tumbler was then pushed away as the Lead Pilot turned about; something had been eating at him this whole time, and it needed out. He turned to the man guarding the drinks like a lost ark. "Shinji, I - "
"Nothin wrong and no harm done, ya know?" he said, beaten the intoxicated Kelly to the punch. "Jus don put me on the spot gain, kay?"
"Ttthhaankks." he replied, slurred from all his drinks. At this point, the Ensign was too wasted to realize something very important; he was likely going to regret this. Regret going to the bar. Regret drinking too much. And most importantly, regret not realizing soon enough that Yoshiko had used his and Shinji's brief conversation to pilfer a bit of the drink.
"Mmmm! Mega Melons!" She hummed in ecstasy. Her head hit the bar with a thump as she passed out.