Verity Javik
To the Stars
"You said 200 credits. This is only 130." Verity told the guitarist who paid her. He seemed unbothered as he started packing away the band's equipment, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He stood up and stretched his back after being hunched over. Removing the cigarette from his mouth, he blew the smoke into her face, to which she didn't react. "Situation's changed. We need more money than we thought for repairs." He told her. "Respectfully, that's not my-" She began to argue but he quickly shut her down. "Listen, just take the money and go before I change my mind." He told her with a frustrated sigh.
She hesitated for a moment. It was worth the fight given how low on money she was but she knew it was not a fight she would win. She opened her mouth to respond but ultimately decided against it and seemingly conceded, stepping away and turning to head to the bar in defeat.
It was only a one-time job, covering for one of the band's ill backing singers and while the money itself was decent, if it was the only job she could get for two weeks then that money wouldn't stretch very far. However, she luckily had the benefit of supportive parents who helped to fund her lifestyle, even as she sought more regular work, so she wasn't exactly on the poverty-line and it was clear as evidenced by her appearance, adorned by plenty of jewellery, far beyond what was to be expected of someone of her status.
As soon as she got to the front of the bar, a man beside her took notice and turned to face her. Though she wasn't looking at him, she could feel his eyes on her. "What?" She broke the silence and turned her head towards him. "I was wondering if I could buy you a drink?" He asked but she turned to face ahead again, not wishing to entertain him in conversation. "I can buy my own drink." She replied. The concept of flirting among other species of the galaxy was foreign to her. In the matriarchal society in which she was raised, she had never experienced anything like it. "I know you can but... What I'm asking is: do you want to join me for a drink?" He asked. "Oh." She replied, thoughtfully. "No, thanks." She finally caught the bartender's attention and ordered herself a drink. "Are you waiting for someone?" He asked while she waited for her drink to be prepared. "No." She replied curtly. "Then why not join me for a drink rather than just standing here alone?" He persisted which only seemed to serve to frustrate her. "Because you're annoying and maybe I want to stand here alone." She replied more sharply. It wasn't that she particularly wanted to be alone, if she did she could have just returned to her hotel room, but she would rather be alone than talk to this man. She had seen him in the crowd, speaking to several women throughout the evening - funnily enough, none were with him now.
"What is wrong with you?" He asked, incredulously. "What is wrong with you?" She shot back, by now close enough to smell the alcohol on his breath. "Go home. You'll get yourself into trouble." She warned him.
