Va'ynna looks up at her as the other asari leans in, and it does make her feel guilty about lingering here; which is probably not the intended reaction. "Sorry, I... I didn't know," she says, her voice already quite low. "It's okay if you don't... want to. I... probably just need time."
#Miner'sRespite – June 11, 2026
Varisa 's brow rises slightly. "I just told you I do want to," she points out, a small grin, less empty than the previous smile, crossing her lips. Her gaze is sympathetic and attentive, although there's still a trace of something else underneath.
Va'ynna nods softly, a hint of embarrassment in her face as she takes a sip of her drink. "I just thought-... I wanted-... nevermind," she begins, and puts the glass back down. "Okay." She takes a breath to gather herself. "I've known this person was after me for... a few months now, but not why." She takes another sip of her drink, her voice getting slightly more emotional and it does not help her anxiety. "In the
shuttle or at... their building, she said my survival was... unimportant to her mission. I was the one that was... threatened when the other person overstepped."
Varisa 's frown returns as she listens, nodding slightly as Va'ynna speaks. "That's awful..." she says, before her expression shifts slightly, looking a bit thoughtful. "Do you think it was true? I mean... if this person has been after you specifically, then... were you really expendable? Or was she just throwing threats around to keep you... or this other person, scared?
Va'ynna tilts her head in thought, before shaking her head. "I... don't really know," she says, and she casts an anxious glance over her shoulder, the feeling of being exposed in here getting stronger. "She did not... surrender when Redrock fought her, but she is also not... the leader of... her organization." She takes another breath and a large sip of her drink in order to try calm herself, but it's not doing much.
"The other person, Wenera..., you've probably seen her," she continues. "It's... clear why she was taken. She was working against them, and they wanted... to know where her leader is." She looks down at her drink as she adds, her voice trembling a bit, "It was awful... that it happened to her, but... she doesn't need to wonder why."
Varisa 's frown deepens a little. "...and the rest of this 'organization' is still out there?" she guesses. "Is that why you're so on edge?"
Va'ynna nods. "And... I don't know if they're... 'done' with me," she says, and takes another sip of the drink, trying to focus on the taste she has not yet gotten used to in order to calm her nerves, but it doesn't really help. She still sounds on edge and close to tears "All... I can do is hope Redrock can find out."
Varisa 's mouth twists to one side. "It's not a good feeling, your safety being entirely reliant on someone else. Have you thought about taking it into your own hands? Try to take control of the situation?"
Va'ynna looks a bit puzzled at the question, and she looks up at her. "What do you mean?" she asks, her voice still tremlbing. "I... I have some... biotic training, but I can't fight. Redrock has offered to... help me with that, but that's going to take time."
Varisa considers for a moment, nodding. "Learning to defend yourself seems like a good idea," she agrees. "So is making friends with people that can help you. You've clearly got that covered too. But maybe there's other things you could do. Like try to find out why those people are after you. Or make it harder for them to find you. They want you to think you're powerless, but that's never true," she says, a bit of fire in her words
during the last sentence, doing her best to catch Va'ynna's gaze and let her conviction shine through, perhaps hoping to instill just a sliver of it in the quaking asari.
Va'ynna does seem a bit thoughtful as she processes the other asari's words, but it does not seem to help immediately about her anxiety and the other countless feelings that she remembers along with yesterday. "Like the other person," she says. "She... always pushed back, even if she can't fight either, and... bought Redrock enough time by never giving up the location they sought, she-..." The asari stops herself
from continuing as it's getting heavy enough. She looks back down on her drink, pausing thoughtfully for a moment. "I don't know where to even start... pushing back." She hesitates a bit, "Well, there's... one person I should call, but... but she...." She takes a shaking breath, before adding, "She is difficult to talk with."
Va'ynna keeps looking down at her drink for a moment as she ponders whether to answer. While she has brought her name up at the bar before, multiple times, she is far too on edge today. "It's... not someone I want to talk about right now," she says, the tiniest hint of anger in her voice. "I spent more than a month gathering the... courage to call last time, and it... didn't go well. It's why I was late the night
Varisa nods in understanding. "I'm not about to pry," she assures. "But if you think talking to this person could help, maybe it's worth the 'difficulty'?" she suggests, with a small shrug meant to indicate that she's just posing the question, not trying to put any pressure on Va'ynna. "Anyway, you know you're safe right now, right...?" she asks, brows rising a little and a small smile tugging at one corner of her mouth. "I mean...
Leah is right over there..." she says, tilting her head in the direction of the biotic, who is at the opposite end of the bar, chatting with Wade. "And... I don't mean to brag, but I'm kind of a badass," she brags, with the kind of exaggerated swagger that indicates she's probably just trying to bring a bit of levity. "And I've got your back too."
Va'ynna has an unsure look at the suggestion, understanding it and the value of it, but she doesn't want to discuss just how difficult it is, and in how many ways. She doesn't give any answer other than a hesitant, weak nod. She follows her gesture towards Leah, who need no such introduction after she was audience to it last time. If she doubts Varisa, she is not showing it. "I... know, but... I can't help it," she
says, taking another breath, "but... thank you." It is sincere, but her tone may not convey that properly.
Varisa 's expression sobers, and she nods softly. "Hey, I don't know how you're spending your days off, maybe you just want some time for yourself to... process things, but if you ever feel like company, just let me know, alright? I mean... if I'm not working. In that case... feel free to come bug us," she offers, unaware of the planned excursion aboard the Siren's Call.
Va'ynna looks down at the glass again, reaching up with the back of a finger to wipe a tear that was about to roll down her cheek. "I... I might come by," she says. "There's the risk that I might... put on an apron, though." It does not sound like a joke, but nothing could right now. She takes a small sip before continuing. "I... leaving Aite someday soon with... Victoria. I hope... I can... come back in not... too
long, but... I don't know." She looks up past her at the door to the back for a moment before looking at Varisa again.
Varisa snorts quietly at the mention of putting on an apron, the corner of her mouth curving upward slightly. The words that follow make her eyebrows rise slightly. "So you do have a plan. That's good. I hope so too," she says, reaching back to grab a napkin and offer it to Va'ynna. She seems about to say something else when her attention is drawn by a newly arrived patron, drawing a faint sigh from her. "Duty calls... are you going
Va'ynna takes the napkin with a small nod, and wipes under her eye. She looks a bit anxious as Varisa's attention is pulled elsewhere, but there is another nod from her. "I'll... be fine," she says softly. "I should... get going soon too." She takes another sip of her drink.
Varisa offers a nod of her own, flashing an encouraging smile and giving Va'ynna's hand a quick pat before moving down the bar to serve the new arrival.