"Thanks Ral, and good luck out there. Don't get shot or lost, or whatever. Take care of yourself, hon!" He said while watching Ral leaving the Arcadia.
"Nice rack!" he thought to himself while seeing Ral leaving.
"Hello Sebastien, you asked a good question about Dankien and Quiron. Did they both get lost in the vasts of XV's storerooms?" He asked.
A frail looking but tall built patron sauntered into the dimly illuminated tavern known as 'Raluca's Arcadia'. A few heads were turned towards the unkempt and obviously stressed man, but none gazed due to courtesy and his identity. If it wasn't for his scientific achievements and distinguished reputation amongst the Omicroners' research community, he could well have been mistaken as a homeless refugee. The man appears as though as he had just finished his shift at a lab and hadn't remembered to take off his lab coat with an ID which identified him as Marco Cabulb.
Rarely seen outside the labs, the former administrator of Corinth Research Facility approached the bar with feelings of unease and anxiety. He chose a spot close to the empty corner and gestured for service.
"What can I get you, sir?" The barman asked.
Looking slightly lost, Marco paused for a moment before he finally replied with a question, "Where's Raluca?"
[font=Century Gothic]Ruben, the bartender, answered him.
She's either in the medical bay, either in one of the biodomes or in the hangar bay. The doc told her to do relaxing things during the recovery period. Meanwhile, I will be the one to serve you, sir. So, what would you like?
"Hmph... Relaxing... Everyone's relaxing these days but me," Marco muttered under his breath and sighed heavily, "I'll have whatever that's gonna make me forget, at least for a short while anyway."
Better not make this a habit, Marco, this is the only exception.
*A medium built man walks into the bar. Its Finn, Finn McCool. The Drunkin' Dubliner. Taking a look around, he nods in approval. Lots of folk here, all of the merry sort. But, its missing something*
"Aye, this place is lackin' one thing. A drunkin' Dubliner. Hehe"
*After looking around, Finn makes his way to the bar. After eyeing the wide array of bottles and liquers, he knocks on the bar*
"Oye, I'll take yer finest whiskey. Make it a double in fact lad."
*After receiving the drink and downing it, he looks around... sizing people up and seeing if anyone in the bar looks like a challenge in the waiting. A challenge, not of might and strenth, but of patience, of courage, of stamina. A challenge of drink!*
[font=Century Gothic]Raluca enters the Arcadia, going straight to Ruben.
How's it going? Do you need any supplies?
[color=#993300]What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be recovering? I am recovering. Don't worry, I'm not here to work but I needed to see the bar and maybe I can send an order to our suppliers. So... what do we need?
[color=#993300]Well, we're running out of mineral water. That's all? Pretty much, yes. Alright, have you seen Bo? I'll tell him to bring some water on his next transport. He should be here. If not, I'm sure he will come soon. You can wait him at that table while drinking this tea.
Ral takes the tea and sits at one of the tables, close to the exit so that she can see everyone that enters. Her skin is still pale but at least she doesn't look so tired like before. She opens a small book and starts reading, rising her eyes at every person that enters the bar.
From the corner of his eye, Marco spotted Raluca near the entrance to the tavern. His mind quickly raced through more than a few possible outcomes to scenarios which could occur depending on his actions in the next minute.
Should I approach her? What should I say? What will she think?
Marco bombarded himself with endless questions which is beginning to drive him insane. For weeks, he had not been able to get any sleep and what he could muster would hardly be considered as quality sleep. He distanced himself physically and mentally from everyone else around him - his family, his friends, his colleagues. Solitary confinement had only added to his depression and ever-growing disconnection from reality.
He needed to get out. He needed to break out of the prison he had built for himself and subsequently a grave he had dug himself.
In the midst of mental chaos and on the verge of losing his sanity, Marco thought of Raluca. He does not know why or how, but this charming young woman has always had a way with words that compliment her other-worldly looks. It appeared that everytime he is near her, Marco felt peace, warmth and hope. He wanted to talk to someone he knew, but not specially close to - like those he lived and served with on the Pegasus.
He took a sip of the strangely coloured substance the barman offered him and was almost choked by its concentrated fume. Then he put down the small shot glass and began making his way nervously towards Raluca's table.
[font=Century Gothic][color=#FF99FF]Raluca noticed movement behind her but didn't turn around to see who that was. Whoever he was, he was now a subject to Ral's 6th sens. She was trying to find out as many as possible about him, without looking. She felt a very powerful sentiment of sadness. Almost extreme; she also felt the struggle of the man, the indecission concerning his actions. She realized this was something serious and turned around and saw Marco Cabulb.
You look worse than I do and I'm the one that almost died in space,she said.
She sips from her cup of tea and invites Marco to sit with her.
With some difficulty, Marco squeezed out a half-hearted smile. It has been a while since he did so, this facial expression has almost become unknown to him. Hearing Raluca's encouraging words, he immediately brightened up.
The bar was busy as usual, Marco had to push his way through a few patrons whilst apologising in a volume that only he could hear. He finally reached Raluca's table and sat down.
Marco did not know what to say. For a moment, the two sat in what seemed silence to Marco although the tavern was drowned in drunken slurs and laughter. It has been a while since he had seen Raluca in person. Her recent ordeal had little impact on her beauty. Her skin tone is still remarkably healthy, those deep, blue eyes complemented her perfect complexion and unique sense of fashion.
Just as Marco thought of breaking the awkwardness with a compliment and opened his mouth,
"So -"
"I -"
Raluca spoke just as Marco did. The pair chuckled.
"Sorry, ladies first."
"It's alright, you can go first."
Marco smiled again, this time more heartfelt than the last, as though the warmth emanating from Raluca's fiery soul is already melting the icy barrier within his mental fortress. He began again,
"So, Ral, tell me about that near death experience of yours sweetheart."
[font=Century Gothic][color=#FF99FF]She leans back on her chair and starts telling the little story.
My Sabre had the auxiliary tanks mounted on it for a long range trip. I was sent after a lost ship, can't remember which one. Anyway, I looked all over the Sigmas, Kusari and was heading to Liberty when, in Galileo, an ion storm hit me. The violance of these storms is amazing. The circuits of my ship got fried the next second, good thing I managed to deactivate some of the systems... But, you asked about the experience. It was terrifying. At first, the though of death is consuming you from the inside. But this passes when your body starts shutting down to save every last bit of energy that it has. The worse part is the hunger. You can feel how your stomach starts consuming itself, and the cold, it's awful.
She drinks his juice and signals Ruben to bring her another one.
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