First Entrance - Open To All

[maverick_mitchell]

Tonight, Bar admits a very special guest. The narration believes that it’s safe to say that there are two kinds of people here: those who know of him, and those who will know of him.

He is wearing an olive-drab flightsuit and aviator shades, with his flight helmet cradled under his arm. It’s painted in stripes of red, white, and blue, and MAVERICK is spelled out just above the visor.

Welcome to Milliways, Lieutenant Mitchell. We believe you’ll find it to your liking.

Comments

[maverick_mitchell]

For her efforts, Cassie is rewarded with a know-it-all smirk, and Mav's aviators are lowered to the tip of his nose, just so he can give her a Look over the top of them.

"I'll take that under advisement, soldier."

He pushes the aviators back up with a finger, and looks around the bar.

"You've made yourself at home."

[cassiefuckingcage]

"'S'a comfy couch. Big one, too."

Cassie blows a bubble with her gum.

"Nice sunglasses, by the way."

[maverick_mitchell]

"What, these old things?"

He takes them off, tucking them into a convenient pocket as he takes a seat and gestures for Cassie to take the one opposite.

"Got a name, soldier?"

[cassiefuckingcage]

"You're right," Cassie says. "I do wear 'em better."

She shifts her body and sets down on the other couch.

"What's it worth to you?"

[maverick_mitchell]

Maverick shrugs, looking around the Bar to take in its various sights.

"Call it idle curiosity."

One hand goes to rest on his flight helmet.

"Of course, if it's a bad time, I could come back later."

[cassiefuckingcage]

"What, and pass up a free drink?"

Gum pop.

"Name's Cage. Sergeant Cage, Special Forces."

She lowers her glasses and lets the blues shine through. A playful smirk crosses her face.

"You can call me Cassie. If I decide I like you."

[maverick_mitchell]

"Lieutenant Mitchell, VF-1, USS Enterprise."

Cassie's smirk is returned, and he makes himself comfortable on the couch.

"People say I'm a likeable guy."

(Granted, those people aren't often his superior officers.)

"But drinks?" He cocks an eyebrow. "You're getting ahead of yourself, Sergeant."

[cassiefuckingcage]

"Suit yourself, Lieutenant," Cassie says. "It's on the house, if you're new.

"So what sort of people are we talking about, Mr. Likable Guy?"

[maverick_mitchell]

On the house? That rates a checking-out later.

Maverick makes a hm sound. "Well, there's Lieutenant Cortell and Lieutenant Wells, my wingmen. Then Bradshaw, my RIO. Commander Jordan-"

And now his smirk broadens.

"-deep down, he likes me. Call it a hunch."

[cassiefuckingcage]

"Hmm, I dunno," Cassie says. "Bunch of Navy boys? Not sure I can trust that reference list."

Gum. Shit-eating grin.

"Looks like I'll have to formulate my own opinion. This could take a while. Good thing this couch is so comfortable."

[maverick_mitchell]

That gets a chuckle out of Mav as he leans back on the couch. "Well, so far as I know, my next performance evaluation isn't for another few months, Sergeant Cage."

He checks her out, of course - going south to north, pausing at US ARMY before meeting her eyes once more. It's quick, but not as subtle as it would be with his aviators on.

"But if you want to take a crack at it, you're welcome to."

(She can't be any harder on him than Jordan is.)

[cassiefuckingcage]

"Performance? Now who's getting ahead of themselves?"

Cassie saved her lookover for when her aviators were on. He doesn't clean up too bad by Navy standards.

"It's more of a surprise inspection."

[maverick_mitchell]

"Really."

He rubs the underside of his chin with his thumb.

"Should I be standing at attention?"

[cassiefuckingcage]

"This is an informal, couch-based inspection. You just lie back on that couch and let it happen."

Cassie snaps her fingers and points at a passing waitrat.

"Hey. Whiskers. Could you get me a beer? Y'know, the usual?"

She turns her head back. "Sure you don't want anything?"

[maverick_mitchell]

Maverick considers the waitrat for a moment.

Then:

"I'll have what she's having."

He turns back to regard Cassie. "Couch-based, huh? That's a first."

[cassiefuckingcage]

"And rodent waiters aren't?"

Cassie rubs her gum wrapper.

"I'm guessing magic isn't par for the course where you're from."

[maverick_mitchell]

"I don't know if I'd say that. There's plenty of people who can make coins disappear and pull rabbits out of hats."

He grins.

"Rodent waiters are another first, but I've seen some pretty hairy barkeeps.

[cassiefuckingcage]

"I know a few tricks myself."

She tosses her wrapped wad of gum in a long arc at a can about fifteen feet away. It hits the back rim and bounces in.

"A few that'd surprise you."

The waitrat arrives with the beers. She grabs a bottle and hands the other to Maverick.

"And that leaves off the ones I've seen other people do."

[maverick_mitchell]

Maverick takes his bottle, nodding his thanks to the waitrat.

"I'll go out on a limb and say you're not talking about free throws," he says, nodding to the trash can before sipping at his beer.

[cassiefuckingcage]

The beer may be a bit stronger on the hops than that which was readily available in America in the 1980s.

"Nope," Cassie says. "My abilities are both astonishing and really fuckin' badass. Too bad you're the one being inspected and not me."

[maverick_mitchell]

If it gets the jump on Maverick, he doesn't let it show - much.

"Who says it can't be both ways?"

He leans forward on the couch and gestures to Cassie's locks. "Because if we're splitting hairs-" (har har puns) "-those bangs are going to get you on the wrong side of a Sergeant-Major one day."

He smirks.

"Let me know when they do, by the way. I want to hear about how it blew up in their face."

[cassiefuckingcage]

"No one touches the undercut," Cassie says. "It outranks the President."

She points to the bun at the top of her head. "'Sides, I've got all my bases covered."

Then she nods at his helmet.

"Don't tell me you got your flyboy name by sticking to the manual."

[maverick_mitchell]

Maverick gives Cassie an amiable shrug.

"Sometimes. When it's convenient. Most of the time I get more done by just winging it. Pun intended."

[cassiefuckingcage]

Cassie shakes her head and tsks at Maverick.

"I'm a flexible girl myself, Lieutenant," she says, "but that pun is getting you negative marks. Remember you're being assessed."