hathor_girl

I ate a light dinner, and I've been working on a report for several hours. I then started reading some of the material from the lab we found on P2X-234, and all of a sudden the time is past 9PM!

I contemplate whether to work some more or perhaps make it an early evening and go to sleep. I'm not tired yet, though, and then I decide to check out the bar. There must be one in a nice hotel like this!

I take a quick bath, and change to fresh clothes. I don't really have anything fancy with me, but it doesn't matter. I doubt there is anyone at the bar I want to pick up!

My thoughts go to Martouf, but I am sure he is in his room, doing whatever Tok'ra do when they are not working. I briefly consider going to talk to him, but then decide not to. What if he has gone to bed already? Or doesn't want to talk to me?

I chose a pair of nice jeans, and turn around in front of the mirror. My butt looks good in them, actually. I wonder if Martouf would like to see me in this?

What am I thinking of?!

Pushing those thoughts aside, I put on a the nicest bra I have with me, and a nice t-shirt. I look at myself in the mirror, and decide I look pretty good. Shaking my head at myself, I run a lipstick over my lips, and comb my hair again. Maybe there is someone nice to talk to at the bar? Just talk!

Deciding combat boots is not the thing to use in a bar, I put on the only pair of shoes I brought - nice ones, fortunately - and grab my wallet and leaves to go and find the bar.

The bar turns out to be at the top floor of the bar, with a glass ceiling giving a nice view of a beautiful starry nightsky. Despite the nearby city, the sky is dark enough that you can enjoy a view of the clear sky full of stars, and a thin moon, and I stand at the back of the room and look at it for a while, before I return to the bar desk to get something to drink. I could have watched the stars for longer, if it were not for the fact that the others standing nearby are two couples, and they are clearly very much in love. I don't need a reminder of my crappy, nonexistent personal life right now.

"Give me a rum and coke," I tell the bartender. Yeah, not very imaginative, I know, but I need time to read the drinks card. I haven't been to a bar for like five years, and even then it wasn't something that happened more than once a year or so. I have no life.

"Here you go." He give me the drink quickly, and I pay him.

I sit myself on a chair at the corner of the bar desk. There aren't many people here yet, but then I guess it's not 10PM yet, so it's early, maybe? The drink tastes good, but going out to drink on your own isn't really fun.

I have sat there for maybe 30 minutes, and ordered a new drink, a Hurricane this time. I have only just sipped it, when two young men enter the bar. They are fairly attractive, I guess, but also a bit too aware of that, I think. They go directly to the bar and order a beer each, then turn to me.

The nearest of them smile at me - and I instantly decide his smile is creepy. "Hello, pretty! Sitting here all by yourself?" He takes the chair beside me. "Wispy and me are gonna keep you company, don't you worry!"

"Uh, you don't need to do that. I'm just relaxing and taking a drink." I tell him, hoping he will take the hint and leave.

The other guy, 'Wispy' as he's apparently called, sit down as well, beside his friend. He smile to me. "We can't let a beautiful girl like you be all alone - that would be rude. Would reflect bad on the men in this place, ya know!"

I take a long drink from my 'Hurricane', trying to think of something to say. Something that will let them understand I am not interested.

"Would you like another one of those? Let me buy you one!" the guy that was not called 'Wispy', said.

I shake my head. "No, thank you. I can pay for my own drinks." I hurried call to the bartender. "Can you give me a Mojito?"

"I'll pay for it!" Not-Wispy smiles, and waves at the bartender.

"No - I'm paying myself!" I tell the bartender, who looks unsure.

"Come on, sweetheart - don't be like that! We just want to be nice, and have a little fun. That's what you want too, isn't it?" Wispy says, leaning close.

"Listen, I told you I don't want you to pay for me. Leave me alone!" I tell him, annoyed.

"Why are you so angry? We just..." Wispy begins, but is interrupted by someone suddenly grabbing his arm and pulling him away.

"She told you to leave her alone! Do so, or you will regret it!" Lantash tells him, a furious look on his face. He looks very dangerous, and if I did not know him, I would probably be afraid.

He is using Martouf's voice, and he did not flash his eyes - which is impressive restraint on his part - but it is so very obviously him. I feel like kissing him!

"Relax, pal!" Wispy says, a fearful expression on his face. "I didn't mean to bother her!"

"Let's leave." Wispy's friend says, throwing Lantash a concerned look.

Relaxing some, Lantash turns to me. "Are you all right, Samantha?"

I smile at him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry - I could have gotten them to leave on my own. But I'm still grateful to see you - and they sure left quicker when you told them to."

Lantash nods. "I am sorry I did not arrive until now. I do not like anyone bothering you."

"Why did you come here at all? I didn't think you guys liked hanging out in a bar and drinking."

"Hardly, but watching 'television' is boring. As well, we had only eaten some soup for dinner, and were getting hungry. We decided to find something more to eat, and also to explore this place."

I nod. "I'm sure you can get some food from room service, but the bar here probably has some food too. They often do, actually. Let's find out!"

"Yes."

We look at the menu, and they do indeed have some food. "How hungry are you? They've got various types of snack food - mozzarella sticks, onion rings, nachos, and also some small pizzas."

Lantash looks less than pleased. "I would like something more filling - and with less fat and salt than that."

"Yeah, I guess you've gotten to learn a bit about our junk food in the week you've been working here with us." I grin. "Okay - what about this, then - grilled chicken sandwich with a side... either a salad, french fries, or chips."

"That sounds acceptable. I would like a grilled chicken sandwich with a salad."

"I guessed that!" I smile at him, and turn to the bartender. "Could you make him a grilled chicken sandwich with a salad - and I'd like a mini cheese pizza. Oh, and gives two beers..." I ponder this for a moment, trying to remember which beers Martouf and Lantash would like. "Uh, some sort of dark ale, if you have it."

The bartender nods. "We do. Coming right up - the sandwich will take about ten minutes." He hands us two beers, opening them.

"So, you got tired of watching television?" I smile, unsurprised. "What do you guys normally do for fun?"

"We rarely have time to relax, but when we do, we sit and talk with friends, play games - and we also sometimes have parties. It is not unusual for Tok'ra to drink wine, beer, or other alcoholic drink while relaxing with friends, or celebrating. However, since... since Jolinar died, we have not had much of a social life."

I nod. "I understand. I'm sorry."

"This is what you would do to relax? Go out and drink alone in a bar?"

I snort. "That sounds so bad when you put it that way! And no, usually not, I haven't been in a bar for a long time, and usually I would only go with friends. We relax much the same way as you do, with games, friends, and perhaps alcohol - or tea, coffee, and cakes!"

Lantash smiles. "Tea and cakes are popular among the Tok'ra as well, though coffee isn't. Much to Jacob's chagrin!"

I laugh. "Yeah, I know he complains about it." I clink my bottle against his. "Cheers." I take a long drink.

"Cheers." Lantash drinks as well.