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#Post#: 1240--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 25, 2025, 5:25 pm
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[glow=Green,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BLIND-EYE
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Conroy Walters ||
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For a while, the pair didn't say much aside from ordering more
drinks. After about the third, however, the alcohol finally
smoothed the rough edges on Astoria and cleared Conroy's mind as
well. Conroy was never sure how, but Astoria was always quite
resilient when it came to drinking. In the time he was able to
put down two beers, she was usually 3 or so mixers in. While the
bitterness of the beer was supposed to slow intake, mixers were
always more of a fast ball scenario. Despite all of this,
Astoria was very rarely drunk, clearly possessing a much higher
tolerance than most. Or perhaps she just fought it the whole way
down, like she did with most other things.
Regardless of Astoria's relationship with liquor, Conroy was
certainly at home with its numbing effects. It was something
that, when used properly, certainly helped a soldier move
through the harder parts of their job, something he was familiar
with. As helpful as booze was, it was important to remember it
could become just as big a problem as the ones it was helping
cover up. In rare cases, alcohol could even help bridge the gaps
showing in teams. Even the most accomplished teams benefited
from the release of inhibitions when they drank together and
considering Astoria and Conroy were the only ones left, now was
as good a time as any to let the magic of drinks work.
"You're carrying around too much sh!t." Conroy blurted suddenly
as he continued watching the other patrons of the bar, as cool
as always. Finally he turned to Astoria and met her azure stare.
"You gotta get it out of you, one way or another. Or, at the
very least, let someone help you carry it around." While his
eyes were locked onto her's, his features didn't change in the
slightest, they just remained eerily relaxed, despite the
gravity of the conversation that was beginning.
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|| Level-headed Veteran, sniper, 40, Republic Lifer ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1241--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 25, 2025, 5:50 pm
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[glow=Blue,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BANDAID
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Astoria Smith ||
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"That's rich coming from you of all people... don't you have
like a lifetime achievement award for most baggage somewhere to
polish." She muttered into her drink, knocking another one back
as she side eyed Blindeye still feeling a bit steamed from
earlier but despite her harsh words, to the trained eye Conroy
knew her ice queen demeanor was actually starting to thaw thanks
to the help of the drinks.
"Another." She said raising her hand to signal the bartender Kal
that she needed a refresher. Finally turning to face Blindeye
for the first time since getting back from their mission. A
marked improvement by traditional standards as she gave a
heaving sigh, propping her chin up on her hand with an elbow
resting up at the bar. Astoria watched the little condensation
droplets chase their way down the side of Conroy's beer bottle
before they trickled across his hand. "What exactly do you
expect me to do, invest in a crane?" She scoffed letting her
usual dry cynicism take hold, she of all people knew the
important of maintaining a level head and not letting mental
hang ups get the better of her but it made more sense on paper
than it did in practice... something she found true in more
aspects than one.
It was the main reason the two were paired together, with
Blindeye's street smarts and her to the books pragmatic ways
they complimented eachother in equal measure as they bumped
heads. They came from different backgrounds, they came from
different specialties, they even liked different things, not to
mention their age gape it was a wonder they ever found any
common ground.
"I'd have less sh!t to juggle if you'd just do things by the
book for just once..." She said pouting again though she was
attempting to mask it as she reached over and pulled at the
corner of his beer bottle label. Astoria knew it would drive him
crazy and he'd be picking at it until the whole thing came off,
her small harmless act of rebellion to someone else her
superior.
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|| High-strung. Medic. 24. ONI Operative. ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1242--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 25, 2025, 7:19 pm
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[glow=Green,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BLIND-EYE
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Conroy Walters ||
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[color=black][font=georgia]
Conroy's brow furrowed as Astoria clipped the edge of the
sticker. He was doubly troubled by her words but he wasn't
wanting to share that feeling at this moment. She was tough on
him but he knew that it was something he needed to keep his head
in the game. It was the only way they were going to get any
answers after all.
With a subtle grumble, Conroy turned to face the rest of the bar
once more, scowling and staring off into the distance. After
some time of thinking, he rubbed his stubbly chin as if
massaging out a new idea. "How about this..." He started as his
head fell backward, the smoke from his cigarette was trailing
upward in a spiral. "You tell me what's really going on in that
head of yours and I'll agree to go through every inch of every
dosier I'm handed from now until the time they put me into the
ground. How's that sound for a deal?"
He was poking at her a bit with his tone but he meant the words
he said. Conroy knew what it was like going through all of that
alone. That was the real kick to the teeth, she didn't need to
be alone through this, he was trying to show her that. The value
of what he offered was impossible for someone in her mindset to
see until it was too late. "You gotta talk to somebody and it's
gonna be Murv, one of the faceless docs, or me. You might as
well start spilling whatever's got you really worked up before
you're forced to share with the docs." He gave a pause followed
by a disappointed sigh. "Besides, I know what it's like when you
don't get a choice and you don't want that."
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|| Level-headed Veteran, sniper, 40, Republic Lifer ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1243--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 26, 2025, 6:58 am
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[glow=Blue,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BANDAID
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Astoria Smith ||
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Silence filled the space between the two for a moment as she sat
there tilting her glass to and fro, watching as the golden
liquid sloshed slowly from side to side around the crystalline
ice cube. The can lights over head cast rays the danced off of
the surfaces surrounding. Astoria seemed lost in thought for a
moment, taking inventory of her feelings and her thoughts unsure
how to best categorize them. "It's easier for you Conroy..." She
rarely bothered with his name so it was notable that she used it
now. "You hail from the republic, you're used to looking out for
just yourself. For me it's more... complicated. My colony was
taken in by ONI, it's the only reason our people survived. I owe
them everything, failure isn't an option and weakness isn't
permitted. I know to most folks, even around here, ONI may as
well he the boogeyman but to me and my family they were
saviors." She trails off not really wanting to be talking about
what's bothering her right this instant, there's just too much
to dive into.
She takes another sip from her glass, raising it up to her lips
with a pause before glancing over at Blindeye again and rolling
her eyes with a sigh. "Maybe some time off would do me well, get
my head back on straight. I can use the time to refocus." It was
clear she was trying to change the subject again, but at least
she was in a better mood which was preferable when it came to
drinking partners. "Do you have any big plans for your time on
leave?"
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|| High-strung. Medic. 24. ONI Operative. ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1244--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 26, 2025, 1:04 pm
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[glow=Green,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BLIND-EYE
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Conroy Walters ||
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Conroy listened on with an unchanging expression as Astoria
talked about her past. He wanted to circle back to that but
didn't want to put too much onto her at once, this was already
progress enough. "We all know the ONI story at this point." He
said, motioning around the bar, dispersing a few errant stares.
"While it seems that everyone has a shared opinion on the
matter, I don't feel the same way as them or you for that
matter." He took another slug from his beer before setting it
back down with a soft bump.
"All that matters is you were tough enough to survive and
survivors don't get to pick how they do it. That part isn't on
you, the part in all this that does matter about you is how you
deal with it." Conroy's voice was just as cool as always, as if
he was simply stating facts and not his own thoughts on the
situation. He turned to cast his one good eye onto Astoria
before continuing. "I don't want to dissect your whole past
right now or maybe ever, but I do care about you as a squadmate
and as another person caught up in this sh!t show at the
farthest reaches of our known world. Hell, the only reason we
are in this mess right now is because we had the bad sense not
to die with the rest of our squad back on Marxis IV."
With his piece on the matter said, Conroy felt he was able to
move onto Astoria's more benign question. "As far as what I'll
be doing..." He paused for a moment, taking in the genuine
thought. "I'll probably just enjoy some training and rest while
not having to worry about being shot, blown up, or
disintegrated." There was an air of displeasure that laced his
voice, there was something else bothering him but it would take
more than a few beers and one trip to the bar to bring it out.
"I could use a training partner though, if you're not up to much
yourself."
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|| Level-headed Veteran, sniper, 40, Republic Lifer ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1245--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 26, 2025, 3:46 pm
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[glow=Blue,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BANDAID
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Astoria Smith ||
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[color=black][font=georgia]
His words resonated with something in her as he spoke about
being survivors, though the drinks didn't hurt; Allowing her to
be comfortable enough to even hear him out to this degree to
begin with. Astoria hated to admit it, but did have Conroy a
point. She had been carrying around the events of Marxis IV and
her feelings on the matter hadn't been at all constructive. The
frustration, the guilt, none of it was serving her. All it was
doing was holding her back, it's like everything came to a
grinding halt after that mission on Marxis IV and time never
really started up again. She just wasn't sure what she could do
to get that clock jump started again. Maybe there wasn't even a
right way to do it, she didn't know which was more frustrating.
The issue of not doing or the aspect of not knowing... If
knowing was half the battle she felt trapped in square one.
Her optic sensors alerted her of Blindeye's increase in heart
rate; it was a handy augmentation to have as a Medic first class
especially when in the field. A handy tool that helped when
stabilizing or prioritizing the injured but it also had out of
combat utility such as seeing when people were distressed, lying
or particularly worked up. A useful arsenal to handle
deescalating conflict or avoiding it entirely. Her eyes darkened
a bit as he brought up losing their squad, she still didn't want
to talk about that, especially with the casualty he was trying
to convey right now. It didn't feel right... Astoria felt a wave
of relief wash over her as he finally seemed to drop the subject
in question and move on to less strenuous topics such as shore
leave.
"You know for someone who has spent as much time out in the
field as you have, you sure do complain about it an awful lot."
Astoria said hiding a small chuckle with her whiskey glass and
was that the faintest of smiles? It would be easy to miss if
someone wasn't looking for it especially due to the way her
words normally sounded cutting to those who didn't know her
better. "Sure, I don't have anything better to do... might as
well keep you from going rusty. The only other thing I was
considering doing was brushing up on some new medical journals
that were released recently on cybernetic integration and the
effects it has on the baseline human psyche... but kicking your
ass around in a sparing ring sounds just as interesting."
Surprisingly high praise coming from her, she wasn't usually one
to jump at the opportunity to spend time with squad-mates
outside of missions or outside of anything that was considered
mandatory. It had taken the better part of half a year of
working together before Bandaid had even been willing to join in
with everyone for drinks regularly, so this was a marked
improvement upon that... but there had been a notable backslide
after the events of Marxis IV took place. She was more often
than not giving a well placed excuse in place of spending any
sort of meaningful time alongside Conroy but isolation wasn't
good for anyone, and it certainly wasn't sustainable long term.
She knew she couldn't hide away forever.
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|| High-strung. Medic. 24. ONI Operative. ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1246--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 27, 2025, 7:57 pm
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[glow=Green,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BLIND-EYE
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Conroy Walters ||
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Conroy smirked at her response. "Well, I am a soldier, we're
made to complain about being in the field." He gave a light
chuckle as he exhaled another small cloud of smoke from between
his grin. "Besides, here, there, or wherever we are doesn't
really matter, we all belong to someone higher up the food chain
at the end of the day." The foot he had draped over his lap
kicked the edge of the bar, sending his stool spinning back
around to the bar.
"I'm glad you're open to the idea of training together. It'll
help us get faster results and have twice as much fun." He
hunched forward and took two more heavy slugs of the bitter beer
in his bottle before slapping it back onto the bar. He turned
his head sideways just enough to let his good eye fall onto
Astoria once more. "There is one thing you'll have to do for me
before I'm willing to get into the ring with you for a fight."
Conroy followed up before Astoria got any sort of retort in
otherwise. "Just come tomorrow morning by the center fountain on
the star bridge around 0:500."
Knowing their night was far from over, Conroy finally
decompressed the air that felt trapped in his lungs since they
had arrived. "I know we're both not done drinking yet, so how
about you grab the pool stick with the most bend off the back
wall and see if your eyes are better than my aim." He gave a
smile and his good eye turned upright in a perfectly disarming
way, it was his way of telling Astoria that they didn't need to
touch on any of the heavy stuff right now, especially because
there would be more time for that as they got better acquainted.
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|| Level-headed Veteran, sniper, 40, Republic Lifer ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1247--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 27, 2025, 8:24 pm
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height=500]
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[glow=Blue,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BANDAID
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Astoria Smith ||
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"0:500 Huh? Guess we won't drinking too deep tonight then." She
chimed in as she rose from her seat and made her way towards the
poolsticks that lined the back wall her eyes scanning them for a
moment. Each one was worn and battered, some had a lean others
were scratched, scuffed or even twisted, but she knew what she
wanted. Her eyes fell upon a particular stick she favored, it
looked rather unassuming aside from a small medic cross edge
into its handle near the base of the shaft. She snatched it up
and inspected it with one eye shut before giving a nod of
approval. "I get first break."
Bandaid took a moment, making a show of unzipping the top
portion of her jumpsuit revealing a tight fitted compression
tank top as she tied the arms around her waist to get a better
range of movement. There also may a small aspect of
psychological warefare. She set up an leaned low taking a brisk
inhale before making the first shot, the colorful neon lit balls
scattering about the emerald felt lined table. Swiftly two solid
colored balls punked into the corner and side pocket
respectfully. "Guessyou're stripes." With one fluid motion she
stood up again and leaned on her stick, waiting for Blindeye to
take his first shot.
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|| High-strung. Medic. 24. ONI Operative. ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1248--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 28, 2025, 11:28 am
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[glow=Green,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BLIND-EYE
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Conroy Walters ||
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Blind eye watched intently as Astoria got comfortable even
holding her gaze for a moment with deadly seriousness. After she
had finished with her shots it was clear she meant business.
After he had gotten his fill of taking in the sights, Conroy
popped off and walked over to her confidently. He reached his
hand forward and grabbed onto the pool cue she leaned on.
Leaning forward, he gave an impressed smile. "Mind if we share?
I'd wager you scanned the best one of the lot."
Conroy's phrasing was layered with intent but before things
could progress any further, he snatched the cue from Astoria and
began lining up his shot. There was an uneven balance of broken
balls from the initial break. It seemed Astoria knew what she
was doing since she was able to sink three balls and block him
from any direct shots. The thing that Conroy knew about these
highly calculated plays was that they always had a heel to
strike somewhere.
Sure enough, his eyes locked onto a three point bounce that
would hopefully knock in three striped balls. Conroy took a deep
breath and steadied his body. While he didn't need to use his
own force to fire his rifle, he did need to masterfully control
his recoil so as to allow for follow up shots and continuously
scan the environment to provide overwatch for their teams during
operations. All of these skills gave him quite the potent edge
in the game of pool despite not having a lot of technical
mastery.
Just as he was winding back to take his shot, Conroy's mind
locked like a vault, focusing on what was in front of him. As
his cue made contact with the white ball, he noticed the form of
Astoria walking back to retrieve her drink from the bar. The
resulting replay of her unzipping her suit moments ago bled into
his focus, very briefly skewing his aim.
Thump, thump, clunk! Two striped balls fell into the corner
pocket with a third bouncing off the apex of the green edge of
the pocket. Conroy groaned with disappointment as he stared down
at them, slight pink settling over his fair skin.
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|| Level-headed Veteran, sniper, 40, Republic Lifer ||
[/center]
#Post#: 1249--------------------------------------------------
Re: \\Change of Pace//
DIR By: WickedOne
Date: February 28, 2025, 11:55 am
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height=500]
HTML https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8f/55/a6/8f55a6b21e3978f00797712a28675bf3.jpg[/img]
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[glow=Blue,2,300][color=black][font=georgia]BANDAID
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[color=black][font=georgia][size=11pt]|| Astoria Smith ||
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"Ooo, seems you're starting to lose your edge old man." She said
with a grin taking another swig of her drink as she walked back
and placed her hand on the cue her fingers brushing against his
slightly as she took it back. "I'll be taking this, thank you."
Astoria said sounding pleased with herself as she took the pool
cue back and circled table surveying the various moves as if
studying them in rapid time. Her blue eyes almost seemed to
flicker with a shimmering light from within her irises as she
calculated her play she wanted to make. She pauses for a moment
and either a tilt of her head she leaned far into the table and
made a strategic tap to the white ball setting it directly into
a cluster of solid balls making it a very difficult shot to
shoot for Blindeye. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips
before she outstretched the pool cue to Blindeye again.
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|| High-strung. Medic. 24. ONI Operative. ||
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