Neil took the cup of wine in his hands without comment, feeling the sturdiness of the clay cup and somehow feeling a bit more secure from the texture. It let him know he was back on a backwater world, once of his favorite places to be. If you couldn't trade, you could steal, if you coudn't steal, you could guard to keep from stealing. A world of work to be had for your average mercenary, plenty of women, and more than likely very strong drinks. 

Still, the past few days had taken its toll on him, and he looked far less springy than he usually did. The air was tinged with spice that cleared his sinuses, but he still felt as if his very veins were clogged, and there was still a distinct dullness to the air that only a desert biome could weigh upon you. It also didn't help that they had been betrayed, and that he couldn't even say goodbye to Woods. He was willing to bet she wasn't in on the betrayal, but he was also willing to bet she would have shot him if ordered to do so. 

It also didn't help that every girl here had Junebug's exotic looks. Needless to say that he took a few very large gulps of his drink after accepting the toast, clacking his cup against Sayeeda's and giving a faux-enthusiastic "wooooo" to the pronouncement. Even in a sorry state, he wasn't above some theater. He and Junebug downed their drinks in a relatively short amount of time, calling for another round when Taya was only halfway finished with hers. 

Despite the heavy drinking and the rough terrain of the so called settlement, the young girls and the serving boys seemed to be very polite, or at least they knew just [i]when[/i] to be as mischievous as their ages would entail. When the meat was placed in front of them, Neil blinked to get the grogginess out of his eyes, the heavy spices flaring his nostrils. "You ever had anything like this?" Neil asked Junebug. 

"A few times. It's far better than the grool I've had in the trenches." she reminded him, already cutting herself and Taya some. Neil shrugged and grabbed a bit himself. He also took out a cigar, one of the types that Sayeeda took advantage of and had her light his. All in all, he might feel like shit, but at least he didn't have to fly a dying starship anymore. "I kind of feel like sleeping out in a room around town, maybe." he said. They didn't need to join him but he wanted something new. "Lord knows where Sven's going, and I think Saxon could use the space from me." he said with a wink. 

Behind him, there was a loud clanging and a squeal. Neil turned to see a rough looking traveler with wine staining his shoulder, and the serving boy that had brought them their food on the ground, fear across his youthful face. "S-Sorry sorry sir!" the boy stammered, trying to backtrack away on his feet and hands. The traveler had on a rebreather mask and a large tan duster, his voice echoing out of the large helm he wore. 

"You will pay for my jacket, boy. Or you'll pay with your life." he warned, raising a large, gloved fist in a threatening gesture. The young girl that had been reading to the older gentlemen gasped and looked away, as did her friends that crowded around the table. Neil moved his hand without thinking, drawing his revolver and firing, so quick as he that the gun was back in his holster before anyone had the time to turn around. The bullet had gone straight through the man's chair leg, causing the flimsy wooden thing to collapse under his weight and letting the boy run off. 

"What!?" the masked one exclaimed, trying to get off the ground and regain his composure. Taya giggled and Neil simple kept eating, acting as if he hadn't noticed a thing.
[@Penny]