26 Candles (D10, LE Nunu's Bar)

[John Slaktare]

"What makes you think that? She spent the afternoon hanging out with you and gave you that dress right, getting you all made up? I think she'd love a dance with you," Butcher says.

"I'm just the lucky one that got the first dance."

[Alex Kovac]

"She seems to be having a good time. I may spoil the fun. I am not the best conversationalist. I know we may had had fun... but... can I do this John... have fun?"

[John Slaktare]

"Alex... I'm having fun with you right now. I can't change you, or make yo feel any way. That's all up to you. But I can tell you what I feel and see," John says, pulling Alex a bit tighter to himself in the dance.

"I enjoy our time together. Mei-Ling looks happy, like she enjoys her time with you. You seem to worry too much if folks like you. I ain't never seen anyone unhappy that you're around. What's not to like, after all. You are friendly, kind and generous to folks. And you look good whether you're in a dress, cooling vest, work overalls, or a suit. You should have more confidence since you got a beautiful personality... along with a matching mind and body. You ain't got nothing to doubt."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei watched Yori at the bar, being ignored for a long time by the bartender before breaking the silence at the table, turning to the other man at the table.

"So Rico, why a red dress? I mean, if it was supposed to be a punishment then it looks like you failed because Alex couldn't be happy about it. Were you just trying to give Alex an excuse to do something they wanted to anyway?" She said with a playful grin.

[Alex Kovac]

Mei watched Yori at the bar, being ignored for a long time by the bartender before breaking the silence at the table, turning to the other man at the table.

"So Rico, why a red dress? I mean, if it was supposed to be a punishment then it looks like you failed because Alex couldn't be happy about it. Were you just trying to give Alex an excuse to do something they wanted to anyway?" She said with a playful grin.

Rico's grin was unmistakable. "I wanted to see Alex in something that could call the attention of a suitor or suitress...Red a color of passion and I thought it would look good on the sargeant." Rico nodded. "And it does... Alex is very shy... you know and barely leaves comfort zones. We push the poor penguin but it for the good of the group." The guy chuckled.

"Alex... I'm having fun with you right now. I can't change you, or make yo feel any way. That's all up to you. But I can tell you what I feel and see," John says, pulling Alex a bit tighter to himself in the dance.

"I enjoy our time together. Mei-Ling looks happy, like she enjoys her time with you. You seem to worry too much if folks like you. I ain't never seen anyone unhappy that you're around. What's not to like, after all. You are friendly, kind and generous to folks. And you look good whether you're in a dress, cooling vest, work overalls, or a suit. You should have more confidence since you got a beautiful personality... along with a matching mind and body. You ain't got nothing to doubt."

"I am glad." The Penguin blushed. "And you are right I should stop worrying..." Alex gave a turn and whirl laughing and enjoying the time.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Rico's grin was unmistakable. "I wanted to see Alex in something that could call the attention of a suitor or suitress...Red a color of passion and I thought it would look good on the sargeant." Rico nodded. "And it does... Alex is very shy... you know and barely leaves comfort zones. We push the poor penguin but it for the good of the group." The guy chuckled.

"Well that's a noble enough goal, I gotta say Alex looks amazing tonight and seems to be having a ball over there dancing so your plan is working." She smiled watching them spin and twirl. "I think that dress looks better on Alex than it ever would have on me. As for finding someone I don't think will be a problem once Alex knows what they want. Anyone who can look at that face and say "No I'm not interested in you" is probably a sociopath."

She turned to Richard.

"So how are you and Yori doing?"

[John Slaktare]

"I am glad." The Penguin blushed. "And you are right I should stop worrying..." Alex gave a turn and whirl laughing and enjoying the time.

"You absolutely should. You deserve it."

John goes along with the spinning and twirling, supporting and being careful not to toe stomp or drop Alex. He eventually ends a song with a dip and holds his dance partner there for a paused moment. There was apparently no difficulty in supporting the penguins weight.

[Richard Winter]

"So how are you and Yori doing?"

Still touched by Mei's gift, he wiped a small tear from his eye, took a sip of beer and looked at Mei with a smile. "Good, good."

He scratched the back of his head, " Well, I'm an idiot, I guess I just thought too much about it." He took another sip, "When I was in the medbay talking to her, I think we were just happy to be alive."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

...

"Alive is a good start, the best start really. I'm glad you found someone to spend your time with since I'm not as free to bug you as I used to be. I mean, I KNOW I'm irreplaceable but Yori seems like a really good second option and has the added benefit of not seeming weird to sleep with."

[Richard Winter]

He laughed, "Mei you will always have a big part of my heart. And I think we'll have a lot of time between missions again," a grin, "Can't wait to get back into space for months," he said with a slightly sarcastic undertone.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

He laughed, "Mei you will always have a big part of my heart. And I think we'll have a lot of time between missions again," a grin, "Can't wait to get back into space for months," he said with a slightly sarcastic undertone.

"What do you think we will do when this is over? I haven't had much interaction with the Major, not since he caught me with my fingers in the cookie jar in the kitchen a couple weeks ago. You think he will give us a long vacation or just a week in port and then off for the next mission?"

[Richard Winter]

"If the AFFC conquers the planet and they still need us then maybe we can negotiate a garrison assignment?`Then we could spend a few months here. Otherwise I'm hoping for some shore leave, I'll trade solid ground and gravity for the infinite void any day."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"As long as it's somewhere warm, I know the weather is getting better here but I have way to many skirts and bikinis that I haven't been able to wear. Some place warm with a large pool and cabanas, drinks with little umbrellas in them and grilled meat on a skewer."

[Richard Winter]

"The summers here should be quite warm, otherwise I don't know if we will find a paradise world close enough. he laughed, "But I'm also looking forward to sun, beach and sea. And to the swimwear of the others, too, of course."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I'm honestly not sure my heart can handle a beach day with the crew of our ship, I will end up getting too excited and fainting like a goat."

[Richard Winter]

Richard laughed heartily, "Don't worry, if you do pass out John will carry you to the nearest medbay faster than anyone can do anything. This morning he carried Yoko halfway across the dropship because she collapsed during practice after ripping my arm out."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"She did what?! I'm guessing it was your right arm since you aren't in a sling but what happened? Did she faint thinking she hurt you or something?"

[Richard Winter]

"Yup, this morning I took my arm off because I kept having spasms,... and must have forgotten to put the anchor back on. then when we were training she pulled on my right arm and ripped it right out of the socket. It hurt like hell, but i barely had time to curse before Yoko was lying on the mat, unconscious."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"That is...I'm sorry but that is funny. Not funny that you were hurt but I know you're a tough guy but the idea of Yoko fainting is funny to me. Did she not know it was a prosthetic, like did she actually think she ripped your arm off?"

[Richard Winter]

"She looked half asleep when she came to the gym, probably slept like shit and I think that had something to do with it." he said and took a sip of his beer and looked to the bar for Yori, "But for more details you'll have to ask John, he grabbed her immediately and ran towards Medbay."