The red-haired girl appeared in the bar the next night as well. Things were slower as everyone, both Alliance and Colonial, slept off the previous day's festivities. However, there was a group of off-duty Galactica officers whooping it up at the opposite end of the room. Ellen sat and nursed a drink at the bar, content to watch as the spectacle unfolded itself before her.
She had to admit, the girl was a real artist. She circled the table with a smile here, a caress there, a whisper in the occasional ear and soon all of the men and a number of the women were obviously smitten. It wasn't long before the highest-ranking officer there, a Lt. Cata or Gate or some such, was singled out and the true dance began. Ellen sat back and ordered herself another drink. This was the most entertaining theater she had seen in years.
At one point the girl rose and came over to the bar. She ordered another order of drinks for the table and gracefully rested on an obliging stool. Ellen raised her glass and grinned knowingly. "Impressive performance." She said, her tone complimentary with just a touch of professional amusement.
The girl looked up, a millisecond of suspicion flitting through her eyes before she could control it. A shy, dumb smile brightened her face, making her look even younger then she probably was. "A performance? Where?" She turned around on the stool, making a great show of looking at every corner of the room. She turned back to Ellen and now she seemed confused with an obvious pout. "You're making fun of me." She shook a finger at her quite preciously.
Ellen only smiled and took another sip of her drink. "Your order is here." She offered as the bartender set down the very full tray. She winked when the bartender turned away and the girl's eyes narrowed appraisingly. Ellen could see her mind working, assessing and categorizing the situation at hand. Something flashed between them for a moment, a recognition or an awareness, and then it was gone with the swish of a skirt. An enthusiastic cheer rose from the table of ragtag officers as the girl passed glasses around and she laughed and drank with the best of them.
She looked up one last time, her eyes locking onto Ellen's from across the room. Her grin was possessive and taunting and Ellen raised one sardonic eyebrow in response. The girl looked away first and Ellen turned back to the bar with a sigh and signaled for another drink. She'd have to watch out for that one.