It's five o'clock somewhere!

[governorkang]

It was easy to find the Drunken Dragon Tavern, due to the train, and the fact that a good portion of the crew was familiar with the establishment and could point the way. Kang knew that there were a few already planning on stopping by, and that Kaylee could use the help. He also wanted to get more information on the new people, see who was likely to cause problems (Farseer Ildraniath already had) and who wasn't. There were a few he hoped would show up, as well.

Feeling a little happier than usual, despite the Farseer, he took care of business as usual, being sociable and refilling drinks.

[Open post is very open. Feel free to talk to either Kang or Kaylee, or both, or to threadjack (with permission, of course)!]

Comments

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

Eva lies to herself fairly regularly, but she can't quite delude herself into feeling neutral that Peter didn't arrive in this podpop. She can't shake the fear that he's not in the pods at all, nor can she shake longing for his understanding. And well, if you're a little out of control, might as well go the whole way.

Not like she exactly wants to see Kang these days, either. She's disappointed that it isn't Kaylee right now. There's only so much she feels up to processing at once.

She wonders if Fonrar arrived.

"The usual," she says, purposefully staring past Kang.

[governorkang]

Seeing Eva again made Kang perk up a little bit, but when she refused to look at him, a bit of his good mood disappeared. He knew she was still upset with him, but he'd hoped that she'd gotten to a point where she wouldn't try to ignore him. Frowning, he set a full mug in front of her, "If you still don't want to talk to me, just say so, Eva. Kaylee's somewhere around here; I can ask her to refill your drinks."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She sighs and drums her fingers against the table. "Sorry, Kang. I shouldn't take more out on you than I already do."

From his reaction, she can guess that like her, he's also still waiting for his beloved. She's still angry, but at the moment the outrage just feels like dull resentment, and this relationship isn't one she wants to lose. "I'd like it if you were the one refilling my drinks."

It sounds a bit plaintive and she twists her mouth in frustration.

[governorkang]

"I know you're still mad at me, and that's okay. I don't expect this to be put behind us so quickly. Don't insult me by ignoring my presence, though." That said, Kang's voice softened a bit, and he asked, "Did something else happen?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head. "Exactly the same as last week. Exactly the same." She twists her wedding ring around her finger self-consciously. "How have you been?"

[governorkang]

"Pretty good, considering. Fonrar hasn't woken up yet, but someone else from Krynn did, and they're alright so far." Kang smiled.

He paused and leaned in a little closer, dropping his voice, "If you're referring to the yeerks, things aren't exactly the same. We've made some progress, and you deserve to know."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She raises her eyebrows, and for an instant there's that sparkle of old friendship and amiability there. "Oh, good. Do they speak Nerakese?"

But the next part makes her bite her lip. "You don't sound like you're about to party, so I'm guessing you've got another foot to drop on that one."

[governorkang]

Kang thought for a moment, "...I don't know. I didn't ask him. I think he'd know it, though." It wouldn't surprise him.

"We have a morphing cube. Unfortunately, it's reverse-engineered, so it has a few bugs, like a higher risk of being allergic to the technology. Iniss and Schmuz tried it, but it didn't work," he sighed. He was very disappointed that it hadn't worked for them. "However, it did work on another, one that came to us willingly, very recently. I only found out about her myself after I last talked with you. She's morphed permanently now, and her host is free."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"If he does, it'll be nice to hear your language again."

"Oh. Great. Should have figured there were more of them in the woodwork." She takes a slow drink, wincing. "At least the host is free. That's something."

[governorkang]

"It will," Kang smiled and nodded.

He snorted and tapped his nose with a claw, "I can tell if a human is a controller, but I can't for most other species. Unfortunately. And yes, it's a step closer. I wish it had worked on the others."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

That gets her attention. "You can tell? How can you tell? Do we smell different or have an aura or something?"

It takes her a moment to realize she's still lumping herself with the almighty 'we', the almighty present tense. "You and me both, Kang."

[governorkang]

Kang nodded, catching that 'we' and not saying anything about it, "Your scent. When there's a yeerk, it's off in a certain way. It's hard to explain, when the human sense of smell isn't as good."

He sighed and moved back. "I just want this taken care of as soon as possible. I hate it."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"It's terrible. Everything in the world can smell us. The Andalites say we smell like fleer, whatever that is." She presses her lips together. "They can mimic everything else."

She snorts. "You're not the only one," she says dryly. Obviously he doesn't hate it enough to put his foot down, in her mind. She's aware of how unfair she's being to Kang, and what a burden that responsibility is, but Tom may as well be family to her.

[j-y-d.livejournal.com]

Smells human. Wedding ring - so she was married, maybe still is, but then so is he. Not slowing him down any. More importantly, aside from the visit by the bartender, she's drinking alone.... always a shame.

"This seat taken?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Help yourself, stranger," she says, taking another deep drink. "Probably going to be here a while."

From the deliberateness of her voice, she's already been here some time, but she still looks alert.

[j-y-d.livejournal.com]

"Just call me Chase, its easier than stranger. And you would be?" he asks, settling into place.

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Eva Salazar." Usually she's proud of her maiden name, but without Peter tonight, she feels a bit sad she didn't even take his surname with her. "I come here a lot. I'm surprised we haven't met before."

[j-y-d.livejournal.com]

"If I wasn't new to this place, I would be too. I don't miss pretty things like you for long. Its a pleasure, Eva."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She offers a hand to shake, laughing. "I should warn you now that I'm faithfully married. Not that I mind good company, though. Or compliments."

[j-y-d.livejournal.com]

He extends his own hand in turn. "The wedding ring clued me in. Me and my wife both ditched ours, made it too hard to pick up chicks." he jokes. Well, sort of jokes. "And if I stick around, you'll get plenty of compliments, but if I'm restricted to being good, I'm in trouble."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She laughs, even if it is just a sort of joke. "You're in trouble if you don't stay good, either. I hear I'm quite the terror to people who cross me."

[j-y-d.livejournal.com]

"I'd have to hear what the punishment from 'the terror' is before I put too much thought into setting aside my wicked ways. Never know, I might enjoy it."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She snorts. "No, you won't. And be careful, soldier, you're starting to tread that line with me."

[j-y-d.livejournal.com]

"I'm also full of shit, and you're welcome to call me on it. Much as I talk, I got too much respect for the folks that can pull off that 'committed relationship' thing to be any threat." he replies cheerfully.
"Maybe you'll let me make up for it by buying you a drink. And yes, I know they're free... right in my price range."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She smiles easily as the conversation rounds back into more comfortable territory for her. It's when she starts feeling trapped that she gets restless. "I'll never argue with a free drink. Especially a free free drink. So what do you do around here?"