Congratulations are In Order (D3 EE Open Officer's Lounge)

[John Slaktare]

Butcher had been officered into compliance and was present. It wasn't his first time in the lounge, because cleaning happened. But it was his first time he was invited. To celebrate the promotion. He'd celebrated last night with Mei-Ling and he strongly suspected this wouldn't be better than that.

But he was present and attending. He found a seat and somewhat relaxed.

[Gianna Rains]

Gianna took a spot behind the bar, smiling broadly at the folks who'd needed so much encouragement to actually get to the officers lounge, now that they were in the club. There was a knot in her stomach, after her very un-officer performance during the set-up efforts, but she wasn't going to let that prevent her supporting Cat, Yori and the others.

She casts her warm smile around the room, welcoming requests for things to be poured, while subtly setting out supplies for a drink that will help her relax.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori stands in a corner mechanically sipping from a beer bottle and staring ahead uncomfortably. She seems to only make eye contact for a too short glance or an awkward stare. Still, she had actually come.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

A mop of red hair bobs into the room, as Catherine takes a quick peek before fully entering. Taking quick stock of who else is there, she slips in quietly and takes a look around. She had been invited to this place and it seems like quite a a few people have already arrived.

Two of the faces are vaguely familiar to her. The man she mostly only knows by his callsign 'Butcher' and the ever so strange woman Yori who is going by 'Apprentice'. The third face however, behind the bar, is very familiar.

After giving everyone a quick smile and wave, the freshly promoted little Lieutenant proceeds to explore the lounge with restless curiosity, until she finds herself in front of the bar.

"Hey, Gi."

[Aleksandr Korolov]

If one planned to throw a party they had best expect Alek to show up. The big man walked in with a wide smile "We are victorious today and the lounge has two new faces! It is a good day to celebrate!" He announced loudly

[John Slaktare]

John nodded to new arrivals and stopped by the bar to get a soda water with a splash of lime juice. His current plan of action was to get a soda water and make his way to Yori's corner where he'd likely not be judged for avoiding fun.

But he'd have to make it past a couple social hurdles to get there.

[Richard Winter]

Richard heard about it being party time in the officers lounge and after celebrating a bit with his Lance, of course he went to see the others. After all, the initally attack was a complete success.

...

"Hey Yori!" he waved at her, while scanning the room for the people present.

He also waved Alex, Cat and Gianna, but stopped at Butcher.
He never really talked to the guy, but if he could believe Mei he was apparently a very pleasant guy

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

More people familiar to Catherine join the lounge and she happily greets them back.
Alek gets a big grin and Richard a cheerful wave in return.

[Yori Hakamada]

...

"Hey Yori!" he waved at her, while scanning the room for the people present.

Yori tries her best to stare and nod at everyone as they arrive. When Richard greets her she slowly passes her bottle to her other hand so she can properly mimic his wave back at him.
"Lieu- Richard.....Hey."

[John Slaktare]

At the bar waiting for his drink order, he looks over to Cat. "Congratulations Lieutenant.". Seems appropriate.

[Aleksandr Korolov]

More people familiar to Catherine join the lounge and she happily greets them back.
Alek gets a big grin and Richard a cheerful wave in return.

If Cat thought she was getting away with a smile she was sorely mistaken. The big Russian came over and scooped the small girl in a big hug spinning around "Ahh! Kisa! Look how fast you grow. Still so small but already you pass me!"

He set her down and gave her an open look of pride and put a hand on her shoulder beaming "I am so proud of you! Seems like just yesterday you were little girl running around the Mech bay and today you are lieutenant! Amazing!"

He grabbed a drink and raised it high taking it in one.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

The waaaay to tall man gets a bright grin in return. "Thanks! Congratulations to you too, Gunnery Sergeant."

And then she is suddenly spinning around. A surprised squeal turns into giggling. "Ehehee~! Dhorn! I am here, because people like you have always lifted me up. When I fell you, helped me back up on my feet."

Once back on the ground, the redheaded tomboy tries to give her honorary uncle a hug as best she can. "This is all a bit new to me right now, but I am still running. I will still be running, as best I can. Thank you."

[John Slaktare]

He nods to Cat then uses Aleks excitement as an opportunity to escape with his soda water and lime.

Noticing Yori is now engaged, he moves to find a seat with few people around.

Sip.

[Richard Winter]

...

"I'll grab a beer and be right with you!" he said, making his way to the bar.

.....

There he greeted Gianna with a smile and said, "Hey Gianna! Good to see you!"
He looked around a bit, looking a little confused. "Tell me, have you seen the beer?" he asked

[Gianna Rains]

Caught up in the surge of arrivals, the excitement, the Cat almost flying through the air, Gianna forgets her job for a time.

There he greeted Gianna with a smile and said, "Hey Gianna! Good to see you!"
He looked around a bit, looking a little confused. "Tell me, have you seen the beer?" he asked

Once Richard brings her back to it, she rolls her eyes at him. With a smooth ease that suggests she has plenty of experience with it, the Crusader Command leader takes two bottles and pops them in quick succession. "There, now you're ahead of the game," she says a little snarkily. But she flashes him a grin that says she's not really grumpy.

[Gianna Rains]

...
"Hey, Gi."

Then Cat spends time defying gravity with Alek.

Once she's back on the ground and free, the older girl grins. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Hellcat," she says warmly. "What can I get you to drink?"

[Richard Winter]

....

"Thank you! It's good that you think one step further, after all, the evening could still be long" he said and gave her a smile. "I'd love to chat a bit more, but duty calls, maybe I'll see you later" he said and turned back.

...

As he passed, he put a bottle in Cat's hand, toasted her and said "Congratulations on your promotion" and continued on his way to Yori.

...

Arriving at her place, he also toasted her bottle and said "And congratulations also to you First Lieutenant Yori Hakamada. I'm glad the boss recognized your strategic skills. "

[John Slaktare]

I wonder if I can get away with a nap. I could use a nap.

Butcher's eyes close and he thinks of calm and soothing thoughts... for Butcher. Probably nightmares for other people, right? He always had an easy time falling asleep anywhere. So it only took him a handful of seconds before he was out and his head flopped back onto the headrest of the chair he's in.

[Yori Hakamada]

Arriving at her place, he also toasted her bottle and said "And congratulations also to you First Lieutenant Yori Hakamada. I'm glad the boss recognized your strategic skills. "

Yori solemnly clinks bottle to bottle and takes a swig of the approved length.
"Thank you. I did not anticipate being promoted in such a manner, my assumption is that any promotion, if it did come, would be after the unit took massive casualties."
Looking around
"I am glad that was not the case. Allow me to also congratulate you on not dying today. I am reasonably pleased the combats were such a success."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Once she's back on the ground and free, the older girl grins. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Hellcat," she says warmly. "What can I get you to drink?"

"Thanks, Gi! That feels so weird though. Dunno what I should drink, so just give me something. Nothing heavy please, like that sweet strawberry stuff from new year's. Even if it tasted really good. Maybe one glass is fine?"

As he passed, he put a bottle in Cat's hand, toasted her and said "Congratulations on your promotion" and continued on his way to Yori.

"Thanks, Richard!" And then she suddenly finds herself with a bottle of beer in her hands. "Uh ..." The small redhead stares at the normally unbearably bitter beverage with some dismay. With the big man already gone, she turns towards Gianna instead and asks. "I don't suppose this is some magic beer that doesn't taste like liquid bread crust with earwax, Gi?"