Ouray Inn (iRP)

[themikeruler]

Roland Johnson slowly opened the door to the bar, to be welcomed by his fellow crew mates, and several friends. The ambient lighting was a plus, as Roland had a tough day. He took a corner seat on the bar.

"What's got ya down?" asked the bartender of that hour, with an English accent.

"You've probably heard this one before. Girls."

"Ah. What's the problem this time?"

Roland took a deep breath before going into detail.

"I just can't get over this one girl... she and I worked in the Navy together, we piloted a Cupholder together."

"Ah so you were one of them."

"You got it. Anyway, she knew what I was going to do before I left. She admitted that she had feelings for me, as I did for her. But no matter how much I tried later, she didn't want to join the Xenos. She didn't want to die. And that..... that. Created the argument. It got loud enough that an entire section of the hanger we were in was able to overhear us, and that arose questions."

"So how'd ya take that one?"

"I was born with the gift to BS..." *Roland laughs* "They ended up thinking we were together, and later just walked away. So she and I both went up into the Cupholder and flew to a spot behind Manhattan, and from there continued our conversation.

We talked for about uh, damn. Hours. That's all i can remember, just hours of back and forth. It wasn't much of an -thanks man, see ya later- of an argument. It began to get calmer, and ended up where she was pleading for me not to leave, but under every circumstance i wanted to. My parents died, ya know? What else I gotta live for. And seeing those innocents.... god. You don't know what it's like to see someone die for no apparent cause."

"I feel ya. My pa died when I was but 12, hence I was raised to become a Xeno. But I was not born for battle, but I had the talent to make some bomb Margaritas.... want one? It's on the house, I got all night for this story."

"Sure, mate. Thanks."

"No problem. Please continue."

"So I'm there, with her, in that ship. And god.... is she beautiful. And to see her cry like that... it's just... it makes my heart go absolutely wild. So as she cried, I embraced her and... it just happened. I kissed her. I can't remember how long it lasted."

"Was it good?"

"My god, Barley. We kissed, not had sex."

"Sorry. Keep going, this is getting quite interesting."

"Anyways... after we kissed, things changed. I saw her in a totally different way... I almost changed my mind about leaving the Navy. But..."

"Here's your Margarita. I tried somethin' new, tell me how it tastes, alright?"

"Alright. So," *Roland takes a sip* "So then she -oh my god this is amazing-" *Roland takes another sip* "She begs me to not leave and to be with her. But I just can't... not even for the most beautiful girl in this god-forsaken universe.... I asked her to come with me. But she said she didn't want to leave... her family lived on Manhattan... and her father was a second-lieutenant in the secondary fleet."

"Damn!"

"I know." *Takes a sip* "And then there was silence. I just kept thinking.... why. Why had fate brought me to this, but made me reach a dead end?"

"Life is a bitch."

"As always. We then flew back to Manhattan, and she took me to her private condo in the city."

"So wait, don't tell me. You two did it?"

"What?"

"You locked legs later that night, am I right?"

"What the.... Dammit Barley, get your mind out of the gutter! .....Yeah we did it."

"Ah-ha! Nice."

"..... Shall I continue?"

"By all means. Here let me fill your glass up."

"So I left in the middle of the night, while she was asleep. I took the ship for a final cruise -oh hey Marcus- final cruise out in space -I'll pass man- before I meant to leave. That's when my life changing event occurred."

"So that one night stand wasn't enough to change your life, your acceptance from a boy to a man?"

"Holy hell, Barley."

"Just sayin'."

"I got a private communication from my squad leader, told me that there was a Rogue base under construction that needed to be taken care of. I proceeded to the coordinates, but instead of a base, there were 3 Lib boats and 2 fighters."

"HOLY SH-"

"They made up some 'You are unauthorized to be here" BS and began to fire at my ship! But then, like a knight in shining armor, the Xenos came, and took those bastards out."

"Long live." *Barley puts his hand to his chest*

"Yeah. That would have been my final night of my life if it weren't for you. Xenos!!!!!!" *Roland raises his Margarita in the air with pride.*

"Xenos!!!!!"

*Roland takes a sip of his drink*

"So wait, what about that girl?"

"Oh yeah. So they let me dock and go into inspection as did my ship and everything before I slept. I woke up later that morning, greeted by some members, and went to my ship, which was being repaired. I missed some relays, so I went to the communication array here. I called [Elizabeth] with my ID, and she answered. She was asking me where I was and where I went, and she noticed the background and the way I was talking. She knew what was up."

"How did she react?"

"Not well. Immediately she starts balling, practically yelling at me over the communication, I had to turn the volume down as I was getting some weird looks from the others. So I try to comfort her as much as I could, but she insists on crying, and ends the call."

"Damn."

"And I haven't spoken to or seen her since."

"I see you, mate. Are you going to try to contact her?"

"Yeah. I'll call her up later.... maybe I'll try to find her in her patrols. As long as she doesn't kill me on sight. I just..... I just really want to see her again."

"I wouldn't doubt that she would even if you weren't hostile to the Navy."

"Pshh, yeah. I'm just going to enjoy my time here in the meantime."

"Alright, Roland, you enjoy your stay here. You're always welcomed in my bar" *Barley winks.*

"Thanks, Barley."

---

I'm baaaaaaaaaack.