[T-1 Evening] Bon Apetite

[Colette Rupelle]

"Mais Oui... I can make it a bit special for you Monsieur Jan." She gave it a thought. "Tis a trick to keep yours moist covered in a simple sirop of brandy... Would you like?"

[Felicity]

"I don't plan on losing a mech that's been around since the days of the Star League." It kinda sounded like just the thought of mistreating such a mech was sacrilegious.

That sentiment reassured her. She does a thumbs up gesture before Bruun reappears with a few surprises. It amuses her a bit, but she resumes eating. Was he hitting on the Feddie noblewoman, or just making nice?

[Andrea DeTroyes]

After a short time, Bruun returns with two bottles. He sets them on the table without ceremony, saunters over to the mess line to grab as many cups as he can carry, and returns to explain the plan.

"Doubt many of you are used to drinking PPCs -- yes, named after the mech weapon -- so we'll say that the hard stuff is just this respectable vintage of Free Worlds League ouzo, or, for those with more traditional tastes--" he looks pointedly, challengingly, at Andrea -- "this slightly questionable bourbon is an option. Probably best put to use in a Davion PPC, if one is... up to the challenge?" That raised eyebrow makes Bruun's question pretty clear: How do you really feel about that simulation run?

"So, who wants what? If you're wondering, Bruun's got an eye for a Marik PPC -- that's ouzo and some of this." He produces a bottle of rectified spirit from a pocket. "But y'all don't need to try to keep up." And then he smiles, quite comfortably.

"Well I suppose I should at least try the Davion version." Andrea smirked, "For the First Prince. I suppose we shall see where it goes from there." Despite her 'death' in the simulator, Andrea seemed to be in good spirits.

She glances to Felicity, "Where did you find that old mech? I thought Father's Victor was rare, but a Phoenix? We barely even covered those in recognition back at NAIS."

[Jan Novak]

"Mais Oui... I can make it a bit special for you Monsieur Jan." She gave it a thought. "Tis a trick to keep yours moist covered in a simple sirop of brandy... Would you like?"

It gave him a pause as it sounded lewder than it was probably intended. He gave the woman an appraising look, then, against his own preference for alcoholic simplicity, he nodded. "Won't say no to that. Colette." Must have been the French accent.

[Dorgan Bruun]

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"Well I suppose I should at least try the Davion version." Andrea smirked, "For the First Prince. I suppose we shall see where it goes from there." Despite her 'death' in the simulator, Andrea seemed to be in good spirits.

"Of course," Bruun says. "And it is a proper mechwarrior drink, after all."

The veteran pours a lighter than usual Davion PPC for his comrade and a full Marik PPC for himself. The others not having spoken right up, he pours two cups with just ouzo and two with just bourbon. Even in the midst of his important work he spares a look at Mata and an emphatic head shake about drinking this kind of thing.

"I reckon the ouzo will be a might smoother to those... less experienced... but that bourbon won't hurt you any. Don't let Miss Andrea and me drink alone, eh?" Then he raises his cup toward Andrea. "Is a toast required to the First Prince?"

[Felicity]

She glances to Felicity, "Where did you find that old mech? I thought Father's Victor was rare, but a Phoenix? We barely even covered those in recognition back at NAIS."

They hadn't covered it at all where Felicity had trained. Just the modern and active enemy machines you were likely to face, as well as friendlies.

"She's very ancient, si. My family acquired her many generations ago. Shortly after the Amaris civil war. In the 7-80s." She stopped to try remembering the exact date. She had been told once. Had it been 82 or 83? It didn't really matter.

She watched with interest as Brunn laid out his drinks, starting with Andrea's. She supposed the noblewoman was nice on the eyes. However, at the offer of alcohol she lifts a hand and has the decency to look very apologetic. "Sorry, I don't drink." Felicity poked her food around. "Thank you anyway."

[James Hall]

That sentiment reassured her. She does a thumbs up gesture before Bruun reappears with a few surprises. It amuses her a bit, but she resumes eating. Was he hitting on the Feddie noblewoman, or just making nice?

Mata begins to respond before James stops her. "Finish your food if you want cake."

He decides to ignore the insult.

[Andrea DeTroyes]

"While I am sure His Majesty would appreciate a wayward daughter," Andrea glances at the Freja and feels compelled to clarify, "Figurately speaking, toasting him alongside a bunch of mercenaries from an as yet untested outfit... Not everyone here lives under his reign, in the name of unity would it not be better to host our paymasters and wish them success on their dig?"

Before the toast she does respond to Felicity's comment, "Ah, father's is as old then. The family founder rode it during the last days of the coup and it has been with us since."

[Dorgan Bruun]

She watched with interest as Brunn laid out his drinks, starting with Andrea's. She supposed the noblewoman was nice on the eyes. However, at the offer of alcohol she lifts a hand and has the decency to look very apologetic. "Sorry, I don't drink." Felicity poked her food around. "Thank you anyway."

Bruun stops in stunned silence and looks at Felicity like he must have misheard. "A mechwarrior who doesn't..." The unsubtle man can't hide his confusion.

"But, how do you..." Bruun can't explain what self-medicating is or the importance of coping mechanisms, but it's fairly clear that he's seen few mechwarriors who didn't throw back at least a few. Finally, trying not to intimidate the young woman, he tries for a polite version of his question.

"So you've got some other way you like to... blow off steam?"

[Felicity]

She murmured with a hint of curiosity as Andrea spoke about her father's old mech. However, there was a more pressing matter.

Alcohol and alternative ways to blow off steam.

So far Felicity didn't feel intimidated, but she looked a little nervous now she was the center of attention. "Pues..." She thought for a moment. The fingers of her right hand then skirted delicately across the top of her cup of water. "I like to stay clear headed." The pause after that only revealed everyone was expecting more information. She hesitatingly obliged. "Attacks can come at any time, and drinking when you feel safe leads to more drinking. It's a hard habit to shake, si?" Felicity softly cleared her throat. "I prefer other ways to relax."

There might have been some shift in meaning here. Relax wasn't quite the same as blowing off steam.