The bar was crowded and lively with the occasional outburst that was quickly moved into the street by a pair of alert bouncers. All in all it was better than the average drift bar. Rev Bem had immediately spotted several possible converts, young men drinking alone at each end of the bar, heads in hands. He of course had immediately gone to one of them to offer counsel, though Beka offered the opinion that they were probably too drunk to even grasp that they were talking to a Magog, let alone what he was saying about the Way. Tyr had not found his contact yet and had been forced to share a table with the others.
"See, didn't I tell you this would be fun?" Beka was in a good mood; no one was shooting at them, everyone was well and uninjured, nothing was wrong with her ship, and her favorite music was even playing. "Hey Tyr, stop staring at people like that, you're going to scare away that dealer you came to meet."
"Yeah Big Guy you're scaring away all the lovely ladies."
"Harper, I doubt that I am the one scaring the women away." This was the most Tyr had said to any of them since their arrival. True to his word he was there for business and nothing else.
Harper was in too good a mood to let Tyr's attitude get to him. Even if it was true that the only women to approach the table had wanted to flirt with Dylan (freakin' uniform and all) or try to get Tyr's attention (freakin' brooding muscle man). After all, it wasn't his fault that he was firmly wedged in the center of the group with his back to the wall. He just needed to get away from Dylan and Tyr and the ladies would be all over him. Yeah, that's right, he was The Harper, how could they resist him?!? Now he just needed an excuse to get away from the table for a little while. He looked at Trance next to him, realized she was nearly done with her drink and saw his opportunity. "Hey Trance babe, I'll go get you another drink. What is that you're drinking anyway?"
Trance sipped on her bright purple drink happily. "I don't really know. When I found out that the Yoshido game was canceled I was so sad and I went to the bar to get a drink and the nice man behind the counter said a pretty purple lady like me shouldn't be sad, and so he made me this pretty drink because I like purple and I feel a lot better about the game now even though I would've really like to play, but I guess that's ok because I get to spend more time with you guys and that's really why we came here anyway, right?" Everyone was staring at Trance, trying to figure out how such a small person could have enough air in her body to say all that without pausing to breathe. "Umm, guys, why are you staring at me?"
Beka laughed. "Trance you had better be careful, I think you're getting drunk already. Not that a drunk Trance isn't fun, but who would treat you for the hangover the tomorrow morning?"
Dylan smiled too. "A drunk Trance… that would be something new. I haven't had to deal with a inebriated crew member for a long time. In the old days you would've been locked in the brig for returning from shore leave intoxicated, but I think I would make an exception for you Trance. Even I would find a drunken purple girl too adorable to lock up."
Trance looked at everyone slightly shocked. "I am not getting drunk, I'm just happy to be with you all! And why does everyone always want to see me get drunk?! Harper keeps trying to get me to drink that beer stuff he likes, and Beka and Dylan are talking about me being drunk!" She decided not to mention that her pretty purple drink contained no alcohol at all.
"Aww, it's ok Trance, there's nothing wrong with getting a little drunk, just this once." Harper flashed his best smile at Trance. He had a new plan now; seeing Trance just a little drunk could be a whole lot more fun that competing with Dylan and Tyr for women. "We wouldn't let anything happen to ya. Come on, I want another drink too, and you don't want me to drink alone do you?"
Trance had a new plan of her own in mind. Harper was right, there was nothing wrong with letting yourself have a break sometimes. Rev Bem had his belief in the Divine and Tyr was consumed by his Will To Power which kept them balanced, but Dylan and Harper and Beka had been stressing a lot lately. Maybe it was time for them to take their own advice and relax a little. The wicked little part of her mind whispered that it would be fun to see them all tipsy and get back at them for mistaking her happiness for drunkeness too! "Ok Harper, I guess I'll get another one if you think it's a good idea."