Afterparty

[latinumsbetter]

[The earth once more closes up and all of that disappears, Quark remains on the ground for a long moment, holding Cerejeira. Finally, he raises his voice, still keeping her tucked against him. His tone is all business, brooking no argument.]

Bar'll open in ten minutes. Go get washed up, and then be there.

[He turns his head to look at Astarion, eyes narrowing.]

You. After those ten minutes, you're going to explain to everyone what you did. And then you're going to get out of my bar. Got it?

[and, not waiting for a reply, he's turning his attention to Cerejeira and Leb. He frowns, for a moment, because he knows he can't carry either of them, and normally he might have asked Fe Lu Om Ranma or Vanity but, well.]

...someone who can carry people help me with Leb and Jeira.

[So......the bar downstairs is once again open. Quark is not behind the bar. Instead, he's pushed some tables together and put some bottles of wine on the table. He's replicated some bar snacks and they're there too. There's something replicated for Riful also, in a separate bowl, which he'll give to her personally.

Fritz sitting near the entrance to the back counter where he's working and Critwo is in a nest of blankets in a corner just behind the counter. There’s been several of the extra togas gathered and folded to be used as blankets.

Leb is still asleep on one of the couches with one of the spare togas tucked around her as a blanket. Cerejeira is seated next to her, also with a spare toga tucked around her.

Once everyone is down there, Quark pushes to his feet and clears his throat.

Once the situation has been made clear, then the rest of the evening can proceed as usual for their afterparties.

Those four drinks that Quark usually makes (Athena, Alex, Misane, Aglaea) are once again sitting at the far edge of the counter. There are no new additions.]

Comments

[murchada]

Mostly the shape... The circular bits.

[latinumsbetter]

[Ah, well. He reaches out a hand and spins it, gently. It does float, after all.]

Most space stations are circular in some way. Has something to do with the gravity, I think.

[he pauses]

...you should come visit.

1/2

[murchada]

...

[murchada]

I don't... know if that's even possible...?

[it's the first time she's actually properly considered exactly what will happen.]

[latinumsbetter]

What, because of the whole AI thing?

[murchada]

Well.

Yeah.

[it's kind of a whole thing]

[latinumsbetter]

Don't worry about that, we can put you in a holosuite. That's what I've got planned for Aoi if she also has that problem.

[murchada]

...Would that even work?

[latinumsbetter]

Sure. We put half the officers in there when there was a problem with the transporter, we should be able to do it with you and Aoi just fine.

[murchada]

...You really want me there?

1/2

[latinumsbetter]

[There's a moment where he turns his head to look at Cerejeira that his experession is mired in disbelief. Does she really think--]

2/2

[latinumsbetter]

[...but no. No, of course not, knowing what he knows.

So, fine. Cerejeira, at least, understands. This one probably won't fail, too. Not in the same way.]

...yeah.

1/2

[murchada]

[....oh.]

2/2

[murchada]

[she really doesn't feel like she deserves that. but...]

...I can... try, then. I don't know. Maybe.

[this is actually progress.]

[latinumsbetter]

Leb'd probably be pretty happy to have you there. [he nudges her gently with his elbow, mustering up a small smirking curl to the corner of his mouth]

1/2

[murchada]

[ . . . ]

2/2

[murchada]

W-Why's that part important...

[girl]

[latinumsbetter]

[just. A Look. Who do you think you're fooling here.]

[murchada]

What?

[latinumsbetter]

[looks at her--leans over a bit to pointedly look at Leb still snoozing on the couch--and leans back to look at her again]

Who do you think you're fooling, exactly?

[murchada]

I'm not-- ugh.

[what if Leb wakes up and overhears, GOD]

I'll. Consider it.

[latinumsbetter]

Good.

[there's a small thread of satisfaction to his tone at that, and he turns his attention back to the model]

The habitat ring is here--[he points it out]--and they aren't holosuites, but I could make an argument for putting a few up there for you and Aoi if you want.

[murchada]

...It sounds nice.

[she's not sure if she should. can? whatever tech is in the Paper Moon might not work well with whatever the space station has going on.

but right now it's kind of nice to just, think about it. dream a little.]

It'd be good for Aoi. Getting out there.

[latinumsbetter]

Yeah. She needs someplace else to go. And she's gettin' good at managing the bar counter.

[murchada]

She likes it there. I kinda think she was made for it...