Bright Interval

[Kauket]

Letting loose a small chuckle, as he flopped back in fear,

"Hahah... Well, I don't think he likes you."

The antics of watching his high jinks had set a sense of calmness into Raven, particularly after realising the guards were not particularly alerted. For now, she had loosened her posture even more, letting her hands apart from behind her back.

"Tick? That automated friend of yours? I doubt he would be good drinking partner, especially when he isn't capable of it. Don't you ever get lonely at your station? I know you have Tick, but... that is still just one."

---

[Caliban]

Vincent titled his head slightly to the left, confused.

"I don't feel lonely, really. Well...just a little, but I like it better that way. More people on a Station is...not the best thing I'd fancy.

He left out a sigh, wondering why would Raven jump to such question, though he didn't mind much. It wasn't a big secret as to why he liked to stay alone.

Tick doesn't drink. He simply...well, he prepares the beverages. Some of his cocktails are really, really good, you know? Besides, he's a good listener. I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel like sh*t the way I left the bar last time, though...might pop by in a few days.

[Kauket]

She hummed, thinking for a moment.

"I suppose he has that going for him at least. I don't mean to pry, but have you been retreating to the bar after every trip we've had?"

---

[Caliban]

"Pardon?"

Vincent tried to take the question as a joke, even though it wasn't. In truth, he did resort to alcohol after every disaster of a situation was forced to face. The last expedition had wrecked him the most, specifically. He didn't resort to such acts before, but back then he wasn't studying unusual anomalies that proved out to be entrances to unknown - or long lost - systems.

"W-Well...not every time. S-sure, I did drink afterwards, but uh...not that hard. Not like the last time. I'm- I'm trying to forget about that one. The talk with Tick...the uh- yeah.

Trying to act cool wouldn't cut it, however. And Vincent knew that.

[Kauket]

There was no sense of guilt in asking the question, it is as if she was testing his boundaries.

"... If you insist."

There was a moment of silence as she started walked along to exit the wing, intending to go to the bar. She left a comment as she passed by him,

"You know, you're a terrible liar when you shrink up like that. Either way, I'm off for a drink. Temperature is too damn high today. "

---

[Caliban]

Vincent sighs, knowing he can't add anything to that argument. Drinking alcohol to drown the various emotions he'd feel after an expedition or an experience which didn't prove successful, if not the opposite, would be something he'd do with no second thought.

"...yeah...."

He paused, scrolling through the pictures on his phone with his thumb. He left out a silent cough, followed by chuckling to make it seem it wasn't by impulse.

"L-Let's go to the bar, then."

[Kauket]

The pair wandered off into the other end of the district, approaching what appeared to be a busy court of travellers seeking refreshment. Multitudes of people were within the building, the displays advertised the on-going races with the current gambling stakes. Several groups of people were lingering by the front of the building, simply chatting and laughing.


Raven looks over to Vincent in mild concern,

"Are you going to be alright? It's pretty loud in there, I did not realise the race finals were on today. Do you want to take a seat inside or the outback?"

---

[Caliban]

He looked over the crowded area, trying to think through what he should do. His mind though had wondered off somewhere else, resulting in him spending about a good two or three minutes just staring blankly. Then he realized. He wasn't home to think about the next course of action, or what he's going to do next as if it was a sort of very elaborate attack plan. He was there to relax, despite the surroundings.

"Well...I'm- uh."

He looked at Raven with an awkward smile for a brief second, then again at the entrance. Eventually, he gathered enough courage to say a full sentence.

"Let's go in. How bad can it be-"

The crowd which started cheering had cut him off mid-sentence, however. Correcting himself, he continued.

"...let's head for the outback."

[Kauket]

A hearty chuckle encompassed her as he freaked out, patting him on the shoulder for a brief moment, she reassured him against what would appear to be an endless horde of individuals to him,

"Unfortunately for you, we do have to move through the crowd to get to the outback. I'm sure you can handle walking a few meters, hm? You pick a seat, I'll get the order from the tender. Sounds fair? What would you like?"

---

[Caliban]

Vincent nodded at the thought of just moving through the crowd as fast as possible, find a seat and wait. He rummaged through his mind to find something he'd like to have, though each thoughts were flooded with anything but drinks.

"Energy Whiskey. Salt the rim. Add sugar syrup to it and lemon juice for the flavor.-"

He realized he wasn't talking to the barman, so it was useless to explain the process. Though the awkwardness had not faded away, either.

"Just...an Energy Whiskey."

After simplifying what he wanted, he slipped through the crowd as fast as possible. The amount of people which crowded the place made it feel like swimming through an endless ocean. Eventually, he had found a spot farther away from where Raven might have gone to get the drinks. He took a seat and pulled out his phone to fiddle with while waiting. With nothing to do in the meantime, he grabbed a one of the three pens which were hiding in his jeans' left pocket. It had a rubber button at that, which he used to draw something to stay busy.