Brian's wearing cargo pants and a t-shirt displaying what looks like a very old name of a group, or maybe even an animal: "Def Leppard". He's eating a plate that's about half-covered in meat, and half in salad, and he's eating it very slowly as he also types on a laptop and occasionally snickers.
Seeing Grave come in, Brian waves him over, but doesn't force the Major if he prefers to sit alone.
Elwood changes into a pair of sweatpants and puts on tank top after taking a short shower. After that he finds somewhere comfortable to lay down, a couch or the equivalent, and puts on a pair of headphones. Those who come near to him can hear the quiet noise of bluegrass music bleeding out into the air. His left eye is closed and his right half lidded, though even while relaxing he still places a long bowie style knife on the floor next to him.
After Mar cleans his gear and puts everything away he changes into a pair of comfortable pants and shirt. Picking up his e-reader he heads off I search of food and a quiet spot to read a book.
Charlotte continues down the hall passing by hearing soft music ignoring it as she reaches the dining hall. She gets herself a plate of steak and potatoes before sitting down alone at a table pulling out what looks to be a portable gaming system playing what looks to be a cute golf game as she eats.
Ram'Dain enters the mess hall from his quarters after a little while. He grabs himself some traditional Sang'heili dishes (which look like meatballs and sushi) and places himself among the crowd. Of course, he sticks out like a sore thumb.
He looks over and sees Brian waving. He thinks Might as well get to know the other team members a little more before heading over to Brian.
"Greetings, Brother Brian. How goes your meal?"
"Oh, you know." He looks down at the plate, grinning a little. "What can I say? You don't sign on to the UNSC for the food. But it's not bad." The man does pinch a piece of lettuce between two fingers, holding it up to the light and looking through the pale translucence. "What I'd do for some romaine, though..."
He shakes his head and looks back to Ram'Dain. "What're you having there? That Sang'heili?"
You might notice that it's strange to see the SPARTAN without his armor--he really doesn't look like a genetically altered super-human. Instead, he just seems to be a tall, muscular man, not much different than you might expect of an ODST or a Marine.
Ram'Dain looks down at his meal. "Hm? Oh, yes. This is a few traditional menu items from Sang'heilos. We have the Trutabin," he points to the meatballs, "and the Riseeti wrapped in corridid." He points to the sushi looking food. "I believe on Earth they are called, and please tell me if I'm pronouncing this right, su-she and meat balls."
He picks up a piece of the sushi, smelling it. "Ahh. Reminds me of home..." In one swift action, he tosses the sushi piece into the air, snatching it out of the air and scarfing it down before he wipes his mouth with a napkin. "Pardon me."
Ram takes a look at Brian, realizing how similar he looks to Grave. "I just now noticed how similar in body structure you and Lt. Elwood or Maj. Grave appear. I thought the Spartans were, for lack of a better term, demonic in form. Hence the nickname 'Demon' during the Covenant/Human war."
Brendan stripped down to his off-duty gear, plain white t-shirt and some khaki pants. Headed back to his dorm, the corporal poured himself a couple fingers of scotch and popped in a vid. Relaxing, he sat in a half-prone position, decompressing. He'd head to the mess hall later, but for now, but he just spent three days cooped up in a small ship with them. He needed some alone time now.
"Sushi and meatballs, huh? Strange, how some things carry from culture to culture, even across space and time..." Brian shakes his head, and takes a bite of his food while Ram'Dain comments on his appearance.
"Haha, yeah, well, I think that was more metaphor and hyperbole than anything else," Brian says with a chuckle. "SPARTANs are tough, but we're not demons." He pauses for a moment, looking down at the food thoughtfully.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm not as big as most like me. Never was." He shrugs, a small smile crossing his face. "Doctors said it was probably my age. I got the treatment a good deal later than most; I was twelve, I can still sort of remember it, even. But who knows? I think the docs just grabbed onto whatever was there."
Brian taps his fork against the table. "But hey, it's not all bad. I got some extra stuff out of it that most don't."
Ram'Dain tilts his head questioningly. "Extra..stuff? Please literate. I'm intrigued."
He eats another sushi roll, then pulls out his PDA to take notes. Why? Well why not? This is the first time he's been able to speak to a Spartan first hand.
Batista just sits down next to everyone seeing he is in the mess and was called over but he just sits there and listens while eating his Cottage pie.
Brian raises an eyebrow as Ram pulls out the PDA. "Before I start, I'm just letting you know, I'm gonna speak frankly and off the record, here, okay? Don't take this as the general view of SPARTANs or anything, and if you use this with higher-ups to damage me..." The man shakes his head with a smile, nodding to Grave as he moves over as well. "I'm not trying to threaten or anything, just covering my ass."
The SPARTAN takes a moment to save the work on his computer before shutting it. He takes a sip of his drink--looks like cola--and leans back.
"Like I said, I'm not as strong or durable as a lot of SPARTANs. Not as tall or thick, either. But that's not to say it didn't affect my muscles at all. I'm a good deal quicker than your average human, both in general speed as well as reaction time. Natural gymnast, quick draw, general good speed... most of the time."
Brian leans forward, dropping his voice a bit, almost like a conspirator. "And it improved my senses. I can see and hear things a lot better than most. Helps in the field, both with locating enemies and patching up wounds. I can tell what the seriousness is pretty quickly; makes being a medic a lot easier."
Ram'Dain puts his PDA away before listening to Brian speak, eating some more as he does so.
"Hmm....that would explain the high casualty counts during the war.." He chuckles. "Glad you're on my side now."
Ram's PDA starts to vibrate. He pulls it out, hitting a few buttons, then starts to laugh. "I just got a notice from my family back on Earth. They think the Pelican looks more like a duck." He laughs a little more before putting it back in his pocket.
Ram'Dain sighs. "Gods I miss them..." He looks at Brian. "Do you have any family? Anyone you had to leave behind when you joined the UNSC?"
Brian laughs. "Yeah, there's been a lot of comments on the names we give things. I myself still think the Warthog is the most misnamed... But what can we do?"
He eats a couple more bites of food, then looks at Ram. "Family? My parents, of course. Dad works for the UNSC, but I don't get to see him much; he's more in research than anything I'm doing these days. Mom gets called in every now and then, but she usually stays on Earth." He gives a little sad smile. "I don't get to see them very often. We keep in touch as much as we can... Dad seems fine with it. He always wanted me to join up somehow; SPARTANhood was just an extra option we found. Mom was a little more protective, against it in a way; it hits her harder. So I try to keep up with her when I can."
Brian shrugs and looks to Grave. "What about you, Grave? You got a family?"
At the moment he was asked Batista stops midway from taking a bite of his food and sets his fork of food down and looked up at Brian. Family?....no....No mother, no father, no sister....not anymore....only one I got left is Gaffer...Old man was a journalist...I learned how to sniff out trouble from him....and mum.... He snickers a little to himself. She was a former ODST sharpshooter....I never was as good of a shot as her....she was amazing....taught me how to shoot when I was 5....Sis was....honestly she was the most beautiful lass in the highlands...I couldn't let her go anywere without me because she always attracted trouble....Few years ago I picked up a lead on the Innies for my old man....something I shouldn't have and they blew up the entire news building with all 3 of them inside....Those damned cowards killed hundreds just to keep their dirty little secrets safe....I guess they thought I would be there but I lost my family to those bastards...and I entend to make them suffer for it.... By this point the fork in his hand is crumpled into a wadded ball of metal from how angry he got. He drops the bent fork and looks at everyone with a very humble smile on his face. Something tells me I will get to see my family again one day....I just know it.
Ram'Dain nods in agreement. His PDA goes off again, and when he checks it, he quickly rushes to finish his food. "Crap, I forgot." He places his tray where it goes, then rushes back to his quarters.
Back in Ram'Dain's room, he finds that the formula he had been running over a burner had been on too long, resulting in what was supposed to be a synthetic gel had turned into a black, hard substance.
"Damnit....oh well. Back to the drawing board." He throws the test tube in the trash, the tube making a hard clunk as it hits the trashcan, then gets to work making new plans for another batch.
Brian eats and drinks quietly and attentively as Grave tells his story. He's about to speak when Ram picks up his things and dashes off, which makes him chuckle for a moment. He reopens the laptop, and then leans forward, crossing his arms on the table, and looks at Grave.
"Major, I'm sure you will. That's... I'm sorry about your loss. Terrible things happen all the time, and it sounds like you've seen your share. I'm usually the one who gets sent in after they've already started to happen; hell, I was MilPol for a little while, and that was an eye-opener..." Brian trails off, then shakes his head and continues.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is... Good luck." The last words are weak, as though the SPARTAN isn't sure what to say. Looking a little sheepish, he takes a swig of his soda and starts to type once again.
After finishin and disposing of her tray Charlotte walks over to Brian and Grave taking a seat with a small wave. "Evening."She says with a soft sigh as she leans back in her seat. She looks up at the ceiling at the lights wishing that there were dots so that she could count them.
Elwood walks in and fixes hisself a hamburger with plenty of bacon and a salad. As he sits down with the others he partially removes his bulky headphones and starts wolfing down his food. After about the eighth bite, he talks through his food to ask, "Anyone wanna hit up the range for a few mags after we eat?"
Ram'Dain has returned by this point, typing into his PDA. "Perfect. I can start some other time." He puts his PDA away and takes a seat with the rest of the group. "Did someone say shooting range?"
Charlotte looks down from the ceiling that she had been starting at with great intrest for several minutes thinking for a second before she replied softly, "Sure why not. Always fun to shoot at things when there is nothing to do."
Ram'Dain stands at the doorway out of the mess hall, waiting on everyone else to finish and join him headed to the shooting range.
Hurriedly chowing down the rest of his meal, he wipes the plate clean with his last bit of bun. Aside from a slight oily sheen it looks clean. He wipes his mouth and stands up joining Ram'Dain at the door. "I'm gonna go grab my BR, meet you guys at the range." He then heads to his quarters to grab his rifle and walks over to the range. Once there he'll set up a target at 100 yards
Loading up his rifle with 5 rounds he squeezes them off at the man shaped target down the range.
Damn. No wonder I use my swords most of the time. If I had to rely on my shooting I'd be dead by now.
Carlotte hides a small smile as all shot but one miss, that one being a kill shot. She then takes out her Carbine firing off five shoots at a target without a word.
She lets off a small laugh as she sees that all but two of her shots made the target in the area that she wanted. She then takes a steps back to allow Ram' Dain take a few. Better then I thought I would do. She thinks quietly.
Ram'Dain steps up, drawing his plasma rifle. He takes a deep breath, aims, and lets off a set of shots.
He gives a triumphant grunt as three hits and one kill shot ring up. "That beats my current record of 2 hits no KS." He holsters and brings up his PDA, making a note, then taking a snapshot of the range. "That's Facebook worthy."
By this point he is just sitting infront of his usual console when he suddenly sees an update on facebook and sees the picture. He responds. "wow...humans intrigue you too much dude...."
Elwood claps Charlotte lightly on the shoulder, "Good shooting there Charlie. With a carbine too." he says smiling. "Same for you Mr Dain."
"You also did pretty good shooting there." She replied with a small smile as chuckles. "How about a drink or two on me?" She asked the two of them.
Ram'Dain chuckles. "Sure, why not? I've wanted to try human liquor, but never had the chance till now."
"Make it whiskey and I'm in." He replies to Charlotte. "Let me fire off one more clip. One go isn't much for practice." Elwood adjusts to controls to bring the target closer, within one range increment of his BR.
"Sheeeeeit." He says dissapointedly. "Oh well, lets go drink."
After putting her gun back in her barracks before heading to the bar. She sits down twirling around for a second before smirking to the bar keeper and pointing to the others "What ever those two want and a Mimosa for me." She says as she get the orange juice and wine mix taking a small sip.
"One Mimosa and two Cosmos, coming right up." says the bartender.
Ram'Dain hangs back for a bit, typing into his PDA. When everyone is out, he aims his Impulser at the target, a large red plasma bolt flying out and striking the target dead center. "Still, I prefer a good Disruptor Blast over a firearm anyday."
He joins Charlotte and Lt Cudley at the bar a moment later. "What would you suggest for a first time drinker? I've hard a Rum and Coke is a good start."
"I'll have a whiskey sour. Do you like sweet or bitter?" Elwood asks Ram.
"Uhh....if I had to choose, sweet."
"Perhaps an Appletini would suite what you are looking for. It is Vodka and apple cider."
He pulls out his PDA, looks it up on wikipedia, then puts it away. "Sounds good. Growing up in Russia this should taste like home."
When he gets his drink, he first smells it, then sifts it, then takes a small drink.
Batista walks in on the rest at the bar and hits the bar with a wild look in his face. Ey Johnny...Hit me with something that can kick my ass to next week and get me thrown in the brig for bein drunk and disorderly. He snickers as he knows the keep wouldn't give him something he could not handle. While he waits he gives a two fingered salute to the others in the bar.
"Ah, Batista, I have something special just for you. Got it imported from Harvest. You know how much partying they do on that planet? More than meets the eye, thats for sure."
The barkeep reaches under the counter and pulls out a Mimosa, a whiskey, an Appletini, and this absolutely murky looking drink. He hands each of the drinks to the right customer, and the murky drink to Batista.
"That right there can knock a Brute out with just one sip."
Batista just snickers as he knows this is going to end badly "Johnny boy you are the best! Challenge accepted!" He grabs the drink and downs it.
Charlotte smirks as Bastia gets his drink. "careful there boy make sure you can actually hold that thing down before you are out for the next mission." She giggles as she takes another swing leaning back in her chair obviously relaxed.
After his drink, he sets it down. "I'll admit, that wasn't bad. Although, I feel as though I may not be the drinking type." He stands and feels as though he'd fall over, catching himself on the bar. "I...I think I'll go to bed now. I'll see the two of you tomorrow." He walks off to his quarters, staggering a little as he does so.
She lets off a laugh at the drunken Elite, "I am surprised a warrior like yourself can not stomach alcohol...hehe guess that means I have no person that would enter in a drinking contest with me." She laughs again as she finished her drink.
Elwood has been watching amused, sipping his drink. "I would, but I know better than to challenge a SPARTAN." he says smiling at Charlotte.
"Oh really now, you seem like someone who could hold your liquor possibly better then I could." chuckles with a small grin.
"I'll tell you what. If I win, you teach my how to shoot better." He says, motioning the bartender over. "Give us ten shots of whatever." As soon as the glasses hit the bar, Elwood is on them.
Finishing off the drinks, Elwood sits still for a little bit before rubbing his forehead with two fingers. Can already tell I'm gonna regret this...