It was just another day.  Another very normal day.<br/><br/>Frey Tasson eased off the throttle and kicked the landing gear in place.  Her hull shuddered and he pat the terminal, coming down as gently as he could.<br/><br/>"Easy, girl.  Don't need this to be the day you fall a part on me," he murmured, moving his fingers to flick the necessary switches.  Lights blinked and she groaned as she slowly came to rest in the landing bay.  Or, rather, the flat expanse of land that served more like a parking lot.  Not even close to the type of security contained in a bay.  If you didn't put you ship on full lockdown before you left it, chances were you'd never see it again.  Manny's was home to just the right kind of people for that.  While he wasn't worried about people taking Red (as his ship was name for the paint job he had done on her years ago), it was best to be safe over sorry.  Red didn't look like much, and she didn't land or take off like much, but in the air she was unbeatable.  Her landing gear had been messed up in the numerous crashes into wheat fields and cattle pastures, something he wasn't quite sure how to fix.  It always looked fine when he did his checkups, and then went and nearly gave out when he used it.  He shook his head in his thoughts and started powering everything down.  Everything except the security system, that is.  He unstrapped himself and pushed away from the terminal, standing and giving a big, long, stretch.  He yawned, back arching as his hands went behind his head.  He stood there for a couple of seconds, blinking away the after-effects for going through space and hyper speed for too long.  He yawned again, and then grabbed for the holster slung over the back of his chair.  He hooked the belt around his waist, at the same time making sure the girls were loaded.  Betty and Bess:  Both gifts from Gram.<br/><br/>When he left stepped off of Red's loading ramp, he walked around to mash the button to close her up and then headed for bar.  He had his bandanna-styled air filter tied around his jaw, and combined with his grandpa's old duster and western hat, he looked the part of a cowboy coming into town.  His boots and collared shirt didn't help sway away from that.  But, he was used to it.  He wore it mostly to ward off the majority of bar-goers.  A lot of them knew not to mess with "space cowboys" as they were called, due to the rumors that they were pretty much the craziest pilots out there.<br/><br/>He approached the mangled front doors, giving the sign above a quick looksie.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Mann  M nd 's B   &amp; G il</span><br/><br/>Lost a couple of letters since the last time he was here.  He made a grunt that was essentially his form of "interesting", and pushed his way inside.  The chatter dialed down slightly upon his curious figure, though it picked right back up when everyone took in his getup.  He went straight to his usual booth and pulled his hat low over his face.  People usually didn't mess with shadowed faces.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFFBF">"Well, howdy, Tasson,"</span>came a gruff voice as a weight came down in the seat across from him.  With the exception of bar owners, that is.  He looked up to meet the other man's gaze, pushing his brim up, and stuck out his hand for him to shake.<br/><br/>"Howdy, Mundo.  How ya been?  Things keepin' tame nuff 'round here?" Frey asked, voice slightly muffled, and pulled his hand back to rest on the table after they shook.  Manny laughed and leaned forward on his elbow.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFFBF">"Ah own one a tha seediest joints in tha universe; how d'ya think it's goin'?"</span>Frey offered a small smile and relaxed against the scratched up leather cushion behind him.<br/><br/>"I figger good nuff, if yer chattin' with me.  What 'bout Suze?  She doin' any better?"  The subject of Manny's wife was a sensitive one, but Gram made him promise that he'd ask.  His grandparents and Manny and Suze used to live on neighboring farms before Suze got sick and they had to sell their land.  His grandparents bought it up and said they could still live there, but they decided to pack up and move anyway.  Manny started the bar, and Suze got treatments every month or so.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFFBF">"Ah, Suze, bless 'er soul . . .  She passed on last week."</span>Frey took a deep breath and thought of how hard it'd hit Gram.<br/><br/>"Sorry fer yer loss.  Gram'll make sure to send something once I tell 'er.  She was a lovely lady, Mundo," he said, air heavy around him.  It was quiet for a few more seconds before the man spoke up again.  "Now, not meanin' ta seem rude, but I juss made a drop and am feelin' a might peckish.  Hopin' I could get ma fill here and not have to make another stop."  Manny grinned at him, looking amazingly lighthearted after speaking of such an awful blow.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFFBF">"Thanks, Tasson.  Yer lucky ta have such a Gran."</span>He slid from the booth and put his hand flat against the table.<span style="color: #FFFFBF">"Ah'll getcha yer usual, then."</span>The older man turned to go, and then looked at him with a wink.<span style="color: #FFFFBF">"Don't recall yer accent bein' so heavy there, son."</span>Frey raised his hands in surrender, and then pulled his hat back down.<br/><br/>"Ya think?  Shucks,  I couldn't even tell," he teased softly, making one of the few jokes he did.  He had known Manny since before he had closed himself off to personal relationships, and sometimes it just came out.  Manny walked off with a laugh, and Frey tucked his arms close to his chest.<br/><br/>Yep, another very normal day.