Can Any Of Us Even Get Drunk

[mikangirl]

Who: Space Bar staff and special guests
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Space Bar!
When: One fine night after closing

[The Space Bar staff made good use of the ever-replenishing alcohol supply at their last stop, and Nami and Remy got around to discussing the idea of testing various experimental mixes to come up with new additions for the menu.  I mean, add to that Nami hasn't made a decision which one of the applicants should take the main bar job, so clearly the best idea is to shove them all into one place and ply them with alcohol while they talk to each other and work it out after that.

No, it's a good idea.  Shut up.

...okay.  It may just be a good excuse for a party.  Sue her.]



((ooc: this is a mingle!  It's open to job applicants and regulars who hold their liquor and their plus ones.  If you think that might mean you, you're more than welcome here!))

Comments

[candothat]

[Good job, him. Keep insisting on congratulating Katara on ending all of the war ever even though things are still bad where she's from and wherever she was immediately before the fleet was clearly not peaceful. Everyone loves celebrating the end of something that's still around and horrible.]

I'm sorry. Of course you will still have many obstacles in your way once you return home. [He looks into his (currently empty) glass.] And of course war is never so simple.

[watermarks]

It's okay. I appreciate the thought. I just -- I've learned the hard way that knowing about your future doesn't necessarily change the way you feel in the present. It is still really good and wonderful news. What about you? Is your world at peace when you left it?

[candothat]

[He sort of wants to ask how that lesson was learned, but there's no way it can be a happy story. Now isn't the time.] It must be strange for you, knowing the future with certainty when you still have the present to contend with.

My specific world is at peace, yes. The rest of the galaxy, not so much... but none of the conflicts that have involved the Federation have escalated into a war. Not recently.

I'm so sorry! I must have lost this tag D8

[watermarks]

[ Her brow furrows. ] What happened recently?

[ And yes, she is oblivious to the 'asking serious questions while at a social gathering' thing. She's just very focused on who she's talking with, not so much their surroundings. ]

Not to worry!

[candothat]

[It's a nicety that he has only embraced in the last couple of years, so he's definitely not offended. A good conversation shouldn't be limited by location.]

Most recently, someone attempted to take revenge on the entire Federation for something that happened a long time ago. He was stopped, but... there are still individuals who are angry, or vengeful, or believe that the only way to progress is through conflict. They will always exist, I think, but their power is limited in a peaceful society that has learned from its past mistakes.

[watermarks]

[ Her brow furrows, trying to understand all that he was saying. She'd already learned that Pavel was an optimist, something she appreciated, but a society that refused war, that learned from its mistakes? That seemed... well, amazing if it was to be believed.

But first, to clear up: ] How was he stopped? You said your Federation didn't have an army, right?

[candothat]

[She shouldn't necessarily put her faith in Pavel's interpretation of the state of affairs at home. He believes what he's saying, of course, but the situation is difficult and nuanced. Someone like Kirk might paint a very different picture.]

No army, no. The Federation has Starfleet... primarily a service dedicated to exploration and knowledge, but sometimes, when there is a threat, it serves a defensive purpose. [No one is going to convince him that it's a military organization. They're armed scientists and explorers who happen to have combat training, just in case.] When this person, Krall, attempted to destroy a civilian starbase, my crew was able to defeat his drone swarm. My captain tried to reason with him, but Krall ultimately destroyed himself.

[watermarks]

[ On the other hand, Katara totally buys an armed exploration force who is occasionally tasked for extreme security purposes! After all, her war wasn't exactly won through conventional armies.

She frowns for a moment at that explanation before shaking her head and giving Pavel a smile. ] I'm glad you were able to stop him. It's despicable to attack civilian targets.

[ She remembers smoke, and black snow, and the smell of burning flesh...

She goes to take a sip of her soda and is, thankfully, distracted when she notices there's nothing left but ice. ] Oh, I guess that's it for me.

[candothat]

[What a relief! No messy debates about what constitutes a military force and what doesn't!]

I am as well. Very few things are unforgivable, but that... [He doesn't feel a need to elaborate since she's clearly on the same page.

One thing that Pavel has never regretted was his role, small as it was, in killing the Romulan who obliterated Vulcan. He had ended six billion lives, most of them civilian, in an act of petty revenge, and he had intended to do the same to Earth.

The distraction is appreciated. Thank you, Katara.] I would be happy to get another for you.

[watermarks]

[ She blinks. ] Oh, I can get it.

[ She is not really used to letting other people do things for her. She glances from her cup to the wall, looking for a clock. ]

But maybe that should be my cue to go. I still want to get some practice in tonight.

[candothat]

[A nod.] It was good talking to you, Katara.