Waiting for Assignment (late 2401) - Lahr and S'Miri (Incomplete)

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Earth - San Francisco - House of Shields bar](Dec 2401)

Open since 1908, the House of Shields had long been a historic landmark and one of the city's oldest bars, even boasting secret passage ways.  That's what first drew Lahr's attention to the watering hole.  That and it wasn't too far from the Starfleet Academy reporting center.  The room was decorated festively for the local Earth winter holidays - not that Lahr paid the colorful lights and swags of tinsel any heed.

Lahr had gotten his orders to return to Challenger and was just waiting to hear when he would be shipping out.  In the meantime, the Andorian needed a drink.   He'd been doing that a lot lately when he wasn't out searching for Ruth.

If you didn't know ShranLahr, it would be difficult to tell how sickly he looked.  His usual skyblue complexion now a more mottled blue with purple shadows with sunken in eyes.

"Barkeep!" he called.  "Another Andorian ale!"

He then proceeded to drain the last of the three bottles already in front of him.   

[furytalon]

 S'miri slinked in looking around to see what was going on, she thought she'd hang a bit before she needed to get back to herr ship. She seen the Andorian and walked over after telling the bar keep she needed a scotch and water, she went over to greet the Andorian."Greetings to you my blue friend how are you today?" she asked sitting by the gentleman waiting for her drink as well, just hanging out.

S'miri needed a big break herself, as she checked out the establishment herself, maybe she can order something to Eat like an Earth burger trying something new. So she tapped what she wanted so the bar keep can give it to her. She continued staring at the Andorian waiting for him to reply...

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Earth - San Francisco - House of Shields bar](Dec 2401)

S'miri slinked in looking around to see what was going on, she thought she'd hang a bit before she needed to get back to her ship. She seen the Andorian and walked over after telling the bar keep she needed a scotch and water, she went over to greet the Andorian."Greetings to you my blue friend how are you today?" she asked sitting by the gentleman waiting for her drink as well, just hanging out.

S'miri needed a big break herself, as she checked out the establishment herself, maybe she can order something to Eat like an Earth burger trying something new. So she tapped what she wanted so the bar keep can give it to her. She continued staring at the Andorian waiting for him to reply...

Lahr turned at the unfamiliar voice calling him friend.  It wasn't Ruth's nor either of her sisters.  He was surprised to see a cinnamon-furred Caitian.  Like him she was in uniform. Though from her rank badge she was a 4th year cadet - likely graduating soon - but not quite there... so he presently outranked her.

He had two options here.  He could answer honestly and depress the hell out of a complete stranger, or he could put on a brave face and lie.

Lahr chose the latter.

"Heya." The Andorian greeted back with an up-nod of chin.  Then picked up the fresh bottle of Andorian ale as it was placed down in front of him by the barkeeper, who turned then to get the scotch and water the Caitian had ordered.

"Never been better.  Celebrating my return to duty." Lahr answered then turned the question back to her.  ".. and you?"

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

[ Bar ]
S'miri looked at the blue Andorian, "œahh not much." she purred. "Oh by the way I'm Cadet S'miri, I'm a Starfleet cadet from Starfleet Academy, I'm from Cait. She grinned, drinking her scotch and water, while her tail wagged and her whiskers twitched.  She wasn't sure if it was real scotch or synthehol.

She looked at the Andorian, "œSo is your drink real or Synthehol?" The young Caitian asked the Andorian. She asked for a Earth food called a cheese burger and fries. She had eaten it before and liked it.

S'miri saw the Andorian in a Starfleet uniform too. "So what do you do in Starfleet?" She purred. S'miri drank her Scotch and water with her cheese burger.

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Earth - San Francisco - House of Shields bar](Dec 2401)

At the vague reply of 'ahh not much', Lahr figured that would be the end of the bar conversation -which he was fine with.  He'd come to drink not talk.   But a moment later had the Caitian cadet introducing herself... and Lahr was kind of obligate to do likewise.

"Chief Petty Officer ShranLahr ch'Verret - assigned to the USS Challenger. But as I'm off-duty right now... you can call me Lahr."  He raised his ale towards her in salute before taking a long swig of the potent blue alcohol.

The thing he liked about the House of Shields was that they imported the real stuff.  The cadet didn't seem to know this given her next question.  "Oh it's the real stuff.   So be careful how much you drink.  Or you'll feeling it later." He advised sagely - knowing all about just how hungover one could get off of Andorian ale... and Scotch for that matter.

Another swallow and the Caitian had another question.  He looked over blearily towards her whiskered face wondering what it was about him that said to her that he might be a good conversationalist?  Was it his slumped posture?  His drooping antennae? Maybe his bluish-purple completion?

Oh wait... Was she in the medical program... maybe a counselor?  Roozh he hoped not.

"I'm an engineer, dammit... not a doctor!" he shouted raising his ale high - making joke of a well known phrase by one of the Fleet's most famous doctors ever.

"What about you?  What department you training for?"  Her uniform much like his own had the same golden yellow - identifying her as either Ops, Engineering or Sec/Tac. 

[furytalon]

 [Earth - San Francisco - House of Shields bar]  (OOC: Fix what I said)

Me, S'Miri asked "Well, I'm training for Security and hoping a little military she asked I was trained both in those areas on my home planet of Cait." she purred. S'Miri was enjoying her cheeseburger, and her scotch and water while talking to the other officer.
S'Miri was enjoying her Cheeseburger, plus the Scotch and water.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Earth - San Francisco - House of Shields bar] (Dec 2401)

[Earth - San Francisco - House of Shields bar]

"Me?" S'Miri asked. "Well, I'm training for Security and hoping a little military.  I was trained both in those areas on my home planet of Cait." she purred. S'Miri was enjoying her cheeseburger, and her scotch and water while talking to the other officer.

Lahr chuckled.  "Ah! I was Sec/Tac once as well." he slurred.  "A long time ago."

The Andorian looked down at his drink; his antennae hanging low.  "I left Sec/Tac after M'lenda died... switched to Ops.  Figured I couldn't get sent on any more suicide missions when working Ops."  There was no way for the Caitian to know that he was referring to a mission to reclaim a remote outpost from former Admiral Leyton's control after the man declared war on the Federation.

Lahr lifted his head to take another drink of his ale, then turned to the Caitian.  The fur color was nothing like M'lenda's.  Hers had been striped like a tigers.  "Did you know M'lenda?  She was Caitian too.  A real hero... sacrificed her life to save a crashed pilot from a grenade during the Leyton War."

Lahr shook his head and took another swallow.  "Now instead dangerous missions, cadets gets turned to Borg and go after their professors.  We just can't escape the bad in the universe.  It hunts us down."