Just Another Sip (Vanessa)

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

Sienna was hired for live music in the lobby of the Rochester Inn, and while it wasn't the best paying job, it was strictly weekends and it was income. She may have wished for more, but the redhead was never going to be picky about that. As long as she had something, it was enough. 

Her shift just ended, and she went to place her designated time card in the back where it belonged. Her body was exhausted, but she didn't want to simply go home and do nothing for the remainder of the night, so Sienna decided to stay and at least have a drink to ease her nerves. 

There weren't many people in the bar, save a few coupled guests that she had seen come into the lobby an hour so ago, and so her attention went to the bar itself. The redhead sat herself at the bar stool and waited for the bartender.

"I want to get tipsy, not drunk." Sienna said when she felt the presence of another standing across the bar, "You have anything light?" 

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

Every weekend, Vanessa was guaranteed to be bartending at the Rochester Inn for at least one day. She felt like she found a comfortable niche that was an alternative to studying biology, which had to be put on hold until the Hispanic girl could afford (both money and time) to go back to school. She stood behind the counter, sighing to herself. For the weekend, it was extremely slow. Her empty tip jar was proof. She drummed her fingers on the counter, waiting for people to catch her attention.

Vanessa noticed a redhead sitting on the opposite side of the bar. She quickly straightened up, making her way down to the unfamiliar girl. "Hi there, what can I get started for you this evening?" Vanessa asked with a smile, leaning against her hands on the counter. Listening to what the girl requested, Vanessa paused for a moment, thinking of what she could do. "Well, we have light beer. I can make you anything with less alcohol than usual." She tapped her chin, thinking. "I like margaritas. Sweet and tasty." Vanessa didn't know what the girl considered light, or what was considered light as she was relatively new to the job.

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

"I'm allergic to Tequila, actually." Sienna said with a sheepish grin, and although she could probably substitute the alcohol with another, she just preferred to stay away from Margaritas as best she could. "How about an Apple Martini with Rum instead of Vodka?" Sienna'd likely not have another, but it would be nice to just get her to relax.

"Usted hispaño?" {Translate:You Hispanic?} The Ginger breathed a laugh as the woman began the order. It was a simple guess, but her looks breathed the culture, unlike her. She was partially Cuban, which came as a shocker to most. That, and her accent was practically flawless when she spoke the language because it happened to be her first language.

"Just curious."

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

"Oh, sorry. I'll make sure not a drop of tequila touches your glass." Vanessa promised, as she took all allergies and requests seriously. "Don't know what I'd do without it." She added with a chuckle, tequila being one of her drinks of choice. "Sure thing, love." Nodding, Vanessa began to assemble the three ingredients on the surface, methodically getting to work.

Within thirty seconds, the drink was in front of the redhead. Vanessa gave her a smile, frowning a little when the girl began speaking Spanish. Not that she was confused about the language, as she herself was Hispanic. Her family spoke the language, but it wasn't their first. She tilted her head to the side, nodding. "Sí, soy hispano." (Yes, I'm Hispanic.) Vanessa chuckled. Since moving back to Pilot Ridge, she had yet to meet someone who also spoke the language. It was refreshing.

"Y usted? O usted toma una clase de lengua?" (How about you? Or did you take a language class?) Now the Hispanic girl was curious.

OOC: This is all google translate so if it's wrong I am sorry xD

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

"'It's my first language'" Sienna said with a grin, already enjoying this unexpected stop to her night. It wasn't often that she could use her first language that often in the city of Pilot Ridge. This was probably the most diverse place in Virginia, but everyone spoke English. She would sometimes come home and learn that she was becoming iffy.

The girl took a sip of her drink, closing her eyes as the alcohol swept down her throat. It wasn't strong like some, and the taste was refreshing. She smiled, tapping her fingers on the bar to a tune.

"I'm half Cuban. I know I don't look it." The Redhead laughed, running a hand through her hair habitually, looking up at the bartender with a sheepish smile.

"I'm Sienna, by the way."

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OOC: Things in italics are supposed to be spanish. I didn't want to make you have to translate anymore xD

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

OOC: Okay thank you xD No hablos espagnol!

"Oh nice, mine is English. Spanish is a beautiful language though." The Hispanic girl probably had a bias considering her heritage, but still. Vanessa smiled, happy to find someone else to speak in another language. The couple other customers gave Vanessa a weird look, but she ignored it for now. It was fun speaking Spanish again.

She watched the redhead sip her drink, reassured that she seemed to like it. Vanessa contently smiled, laughing in response. "It's all good. Surprised to hear that but besides the point."

"Vanessa." She greeted in return. "Haven't seen you around here much." Vanessa commented innocently, for conversation sake. She'd been around for over a month, and saw regular customers come and the few who came only once. Maybe Sienna would be the former.

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

"I only recently started playing live music in the lobby for a bit of extra cash." It was very difficult living on her own with such little income, but her parents had no issues with helping her every so often. But the reason why she decided not to move back home was to learn to stop being so dependent on the shelter they provided and live for herself, for once in her life.

"And I'm not much of a drinker, so I rarely come to bars unless I really need to relax. Like I do now." Her masters was wearing her down, and so she desperately needed something to just calm her nerves. Six years of college was coming to an end, and it was beginning to make her panic. What if she couldn't find a good job afterwards? As much as she loved Angie, she didn't want to work at the diner for the rest of her life. And as much as she loved playing, it wasn't paying her enough to make a living.

"It's nice to meet you, Vanessa." Sienna laughed at herself, an embarrassed blush creeping onto her cheeks.

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

Vaguely, Vanessa remembered the manager of the bar saying something to her about the hotel hiring someone for live performances. As the bar was on the smaller side, it was decided that the live music would be in the lobby, so everyone could enjoy it. "Ahhh, okay." She said with a nod. "Enjoy it so far?"

And that answered her second question. Vanessa chuckled, beginning to absentmindedly wipe down the counter space nearby. "Understandable." Unlike some of the familiar faces she saw at least four times a week. "What are you trying to relax from? Work?" Vanessa guessed, smiling at the redhead. "Nice to meet you as well, fellow Hispanic." She snorted, holding up her index finger to Sienna as she went to fill someone else's glass again.

A few moments later, Vanessa was back. "Enjoying the drink?"

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

"I get paid to do something I love, so yes. But it can get exhausting," Sienna replied with a nod, tipping the drink back against her lips. But while it was nice to do something she loved, it almost took the enjoyment out of it because no longer was it 'Oh I am doing this because I want to', it was now 'I am doing this because I have to'.


"I'm about to complete my Master's in English Education, so I kind of need a bit of a break from all the studying," Sienna smiled, raising her glass in a 'hey' type of gesture. And even when the girl put up her finger in a dismissive manner, Sienna found herself still smiling, not at all bothered. After all, she was just doing her job.

She waited patiently for Vanessa to return from filling up another drink; the bar was relatively empty, so she didn't doubt the girl would return to pass the time. "Yeah, thank you," Sienna offered, the alcohol still a foreign taste on her tongue, but it was very appreciated.

"So do you bar tend full time, or do you have another job along with this?"

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

Vanessa always wished that her parents had the money to buy her an instrument or enroll her in music or singing lessons. Slowly, that childhood fantasy died as she got older and delved into studying and academics. "It's always good to be able to make a living off of something you love." She said with a smile. "Even if it gets difficult."

"Oh wow, good on you." Vanessa praised the redhead, raising her glass of water behind the counter as a toast, mirroring her actions. A familiar, empty pang filled the Hispanic girl's chest when she thought about her incomplete degree, over halfway done. But nonetheless, it didn't matter, since she was stuck bartending to make ends meet. When Vanessa came back from refilling the other patron's glass, she eyed Sienna's glass, assuming that the girl was still good and didn't require a refill at the moment. "There's probably a lot of studying."

"Just here." She answered the question with a nod. "I just recently came back to town and it was the one place hiring. I'll probably have to find something else." Vanessa sighed, her finger circling the rim of a glass.

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

"Well, I also work at a diner, and I know it's not the best paying, but I'm sure if you wanted to, I could get you an interview." Sienna offered, knowing that Bessie's was short staffed lately, and so it might have been a good thing for the young woman and the business. The staff were like family, and Vanessa seemed very much like an enjoyable person to be around.

"So where did you come from?" Sienna was curious, because she herself was not from Pilot Ridge, but she had come to UVM on scholarship. It was the best place that offered what she had wished for, and so she couldn't pass up such an opportunity. And in fact, while she missed her home, she did find a sense of home in Pilot Ridge and its overall community.

The redhead found solace in that.

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

As soon as Sienna offered Vanessa an alternative on top of her gig at the bar, her face lit up. She could use the extra money to put away for Christian's education later on in life. "I really appreciate the offer... but I think I'll wait and see if the hours pick up after I start learning everything." Vanessa nodded graciously, genuinely appreciative of the redhead's recommendation.

"Texas. I'm originally from there." There were two reasons for the Hispanic's girl presence in Pilot Ridge nowadays though. "I.. well, a few years back, when I graduated high school, the University of Vermont offered me the best scholarship. Money was always tight, so I didn't think twice." She nodded. "And... well, I'm back because... well, it's not exactly glamorous." She said with a snort. Vanessa thumbed the hem of her shirt, sighing. "I had... an unexpected pregnancy. Had to drop out and everything. My son, he's a year old, and I never told the father. I came back to try and track him down." She hoped Sienna wouldn't judge her too harshly.

"But I try not to dwell on that." Too much negativity. "How about you? How'd you find yourself in this little small town?"

[Sienna Reid-Estrada]

"The offer still stands whenever you need it, girly." Sienna grinned, glad to see that Vanessa lit up at the mentioning of the job. The redhead didn't own the diner, but she was sure that the boss wouldn't mind adding another girl to the mix. The diner was doing exceptionally well as of late, so there was that.

Texas was a place she had never been, but the Mexican population was very prominent there, so it wasn't a shock to hear the girl was from such a place. However, what did shocked her was that she was a young mom - though Sienna had no issue with it. Everybody made their own choices, and so long as those people took those decisions and lived with them in a dignified way, it was fine. Vanessa seemed to be a sweet girl, so she assumed her mothering skills would be reflective of that assumption.

"Scholarship, actually. UVM offered me a full scholarship to attend with a major of English Literature. Parents didn't like it, but they didn't completely despise it either. I wanted to pursue music when I first graduated high school."

[Vanessa Rodriguez]

"Thank you!" Vanessa said enthusiastically. Sienna seemed to genuinely enjoy her job, and while it wasn't what she was imagined for her life, she had dropped out of university and didn't expect to get the most glamorous jobs as a result. She would take whatever she could get.

The pretty redhead didn't say anything about her choices, which was a relief for once. Vanessa was use to the glaring in public and people looking down upon her. Twenty three wasn't even that young of an age, but definitely younger than she had expected.

"Oh, so we both came for the same reason." She said with a smile. Scholarships. If it hadn't been for the offer, Vanessa would probably only be able to afford to go to the local community college back in her hometown. Then, she would've never met Kai, and then no son. It was weird, thinking about it that way.

"What made you change to English?" She wasn't 100% sure, but the Hispanic girl figured there was a major in music of some sort. "Full scholarship, you don't exactly want to turn it down." She said with a chuckle.