Barrett lost the game, that was almost a given within the first three moves. It was bad but also entertaining to watch her friend get so fixated and aggravated over this match. Nelly did feel bad for finding this all really amusing, but it was, she sympathised entirely, Vincent was unreadable at the best of times but when playing he became even more so. Although, admittedly, Nelly did think he was daring to smirk, or even smile over his victory; she only knew this with how his eyes narrowed ever so slightly in that way that usually indicated someone was showing some form of happiness, or amusement.

Nelly wouldn't blame Vincent for finding Barrett's dramatic decline in defeat amusing. For a big guy, he made a lot of fuss, dramatic fuss at that before conceding and narrowing his brown eyes towards the red clad man. Vincent just tilted his head, red eyes unblinking as Barrett just seemed to look as huffy as his behaviour, "You win, this time." Was all he said while collecting his cards and pocketing them.

"You want a rematch?" Nelly sounded disbelieving. She would rather not, not unless she really had to. She had learned her lesson three times. That was certainly enough for it to register in her brain that she wasn't destined to beat Vincent at Queen's Blood.

Barrett just looked at her bluntly while turning in his chair, he was grumbling something before standing and looking down at the pair. Vincent still sat there holding his cards, as if ignoring the fact, the game was over, while Nelly just smiled up at Barrett. The gun-armed man waved his hand at them and stomped away. "I'm gettin' a drink."

Nelly blinked her eyes slowly and they eventually flicked up at Vincent, with a sigh, she turned in her seat and crossed her arms loosely. Nodding every second or so, she hummed thoughtfully and had Vincent turning his head to watch her. He seemed confused over what she was doing but could see she was thinking over something. "I am not sure defeat tastes any better with alcohol."

Vincent inclined his head a little and looked over the board, he inhaled slowly and took to reclaiming his cards too. No point leaving them on the board if Barrett wasn't coming back, and Nelly seemed inclined to not want another match. "It might soften the blow."

Nelly scoffed and shot him a look, "That shouldn't be funny." Vincent paused in pocketing his cards and looked at her questionably. Nelly rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, if Vincent was thinking right, he'd actually believe this was one of few times her usually cheery disposition slipped and she looked tired, maybe even a little exhausted. "We've had a lot of hardship, all of us, and a lot of defeats and setbacks that I think getting a little merry would be the least we could do to accept whatever has been dealt out to us. But it's also a slippery slope." Nelly's eyes went distant then, and Vincent found himself frowning, she was getting lost in some thought or memory there, he was sure he had a similar expression in the manor basement one time or another. Shaking her head, Vincent watched as that expression went and her usual happy smile was back on her face, he felt something bitter radiate inside him, it looked a little emptier than usual, was she trying to humour him that she was fine? "What you said is funny in a cynical and ironic way, that's all I'm saying." She decided and he could tell from the sure nod and her tone that was the end of that conversation, or the topic at least.

Hearing her name, Nelly looked over to the door and smiled, Yuffie was practically charging forwards. She slammed her hands on the table, the gameboard rattling a little from the action. Yuffie's dark eyes were flicking between them, a smirk on her face as she stood up and held a hand up, her forefinger pointing up at the ceiling as her other hand rested on her hip, Yuffie stood there nodding seemingly sure on whatever was going through her mind. "I've been trying to find you! I thought we were spending the day on the beach, huh? I didn't think you'd be in here, of all places playing this game."

"Hey, Fort Condor is a big no."

"You're just envious of my skills," Yuffie grinned and clapped her hands together, rubbing them together with a mischievous look on her face. "Did you at least win?"

"No. I lost three times, and Barrett lost too. Want a go?" Nelly leaned back in her chair, arms crossing against her stomach as she smiled at Yuffie.

Yuffie leaned against the table, her eyes narrowing and looking over Vincent. He just sat there staring back at her, silently and unmoving. Yuffie pulled a face and jumped back with a nervous laugh, her hand waving at them while she shook her head. "I know how to pick my battles better."

Nelly frowned, "But you always seem to charge headfirst into everything-"

"That's when I know I'm going to win!" That was Yuffie's defence, Nelly just exhaled and looked at her with a small smile appearing. Yuffie went to say something only to hear Barrett call out to her, Yuffie frowned his way then not appreciating the fact he had pointed out she was a minor and in a bar. "I'm with adults!" Yuffie gestured her arms dramatically at Vincent and Nelly.

"I'll get you a drink," Nelly stood and waved her hand Yuffie's way, "A soft one," Nelly watched Yuffie cross her arms with a glare appearing on her face. She really didn't like being reminded that she was basically the youngest in the group. She perhaps tied with Nanaki if they were going to opt to pay attention to his age in human years.

Barrett was still leaning against the bar, his pint glass resting next to his hand as he stared out of the glassless windows. Hearing them approach had him looking at them with a smile, he shouldn't find annoying Yuffie entertaining, but that kid really did make it easy. "Have you spent the whole day with him?" Barrett nodded his head back to where Vincent still sat.

Nelly shook her head, "No. Just some of the afternoon. I needed help with something." That had Yuffie leaning close and looking at her with uttermost curious excitement, whereas Barrett looked more sceptical. He drunk slowly from his drink and flicked his eyes from Nelly to the man in question and back again. It wasn't that he didn't trust Vincent...he just couldn't wholly get a read on him, be it good or bad. "The lady at the chocobo rental had a fiend issue. I didn't know where anyone else was, so I asked for his help." She missed out that she knew where Aerith and Yuffie were, but she really didn't want to bother them.

"And it all went, okay?" Barrett paused drinking and side-eye Nelly, watching her lean her forearms against the bar and nod with a smile. Barrett narrowed his eyes, the low hum coming from him showed he didn't entirely believe her, but he wasn't going to push her.

Nelly jumped when Yuffie clapped her on the shoulder, wide grin in place, "Resident Vincent interpreter." Nelly let out a confused noise just as the bartender appeared, the noise had the man looking at her worriedly while Barrett chuckled into his drink. Getting over what Yuffie just said, Nelly ordered the drinks and gave Yuffie hers while sipping at her own with a small frown.

Barrett turned and leaned his back against the bar then, people coming and going did eye him and carried on walking, clearly deciding they were going to order when he had moved. "I don't know, Nell, he may have taken a shine to ya." Barrett toasted his glass Nelly's way and had her looking at him with a frown.

"You do also sit next to each other on the Broncho so..." Yuffie went on with wide eyes and a grin.

"Aren't we all meant to be friends anyway?" Nelly found her voice and looked between the pair, Barrett scratching his cheek in thought while Yuffie hopped to sit on a barstool. That was her defence, she wasn't any different to any of them, if either of them asked Vincent for help, he'd probably give it willingly like he did with her. Although Nelly found herself staring off into space, would he have healed them? The thought of Vincent healing Barrett almost had her choking on her drink, both would be gloomy faced and even if Barrett didn't already have cure, he'd probably come out with something and walk off leaving Vincent standing there. He'd probably cure Yuffie, Nelly wasn't sure why, she just got this sense that actually, maybe he didn't like seeing people around him hurt.

"There you three are!" Aerith's cheery tone had them all looking her way suddenly, she blanched a little with an awkward laugh, she wasn't expecting them to snap their heads her way with different expressions, Yuffie looked startled, Barrett almost spat his drink out from having the Ancient exclaim a greeting but tried to at least cover that up with a friendly smile, and Nelly just looked like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't be.

"What are you guys doing in here?" Nanaki was beside Aerith, flaming tail flicking from side to side as he looked up at his friends.

"Would you believe we had good intentions?" Nelly questioned, sipping the toxic coloured mocktail in her hands. Nanaki tilted his head, yellow eye looking her over trying to figure out if he actually needed to answer. With a sigh, Nelly waved a hand Vincent's way. Nanaki and Aerith had perhaps not noticed the figure still sitting at the table seemingly content on his own, even though those at the bar were rather sure he'd heard every word they had said. The space wasn't particularly large, the distance between the table and the bar was very small. "We were playing Queen's Blood, Barrett and I lost."

"At least I didn't keep goin' back for more." Barrett said with a wry grin and got a hand swatting at his arm and Nelly exclaiming at him.

"That sounds super inappropriate!" She huffed and then looked back to their two friends, they were standing looking a little confused, they had missed out on something. Inhaling and looking at Nanaki, Nelly smiled, "I did say you were very good at playing though."

The red furred head couldn't have snapped any quicker to look Vincent's way. Nanaki's tail also swished a little bit more with excitement, he was gutted he had to be in disguise for the tournament on the ship, though Nelly had seen him lurking about the Queen's Blood area in the Saucer. He really was very good at the game, and she knew he struggled to find people to play against, Nelly hoped the gentle hint was taken and she smiled when Nanaki went trotting over. She really hoped she hadn't just made a mistake here, but from the way which he leapt to sit on the chair, tongue almost lolling out of his mouth, Nelly was more concerned that Vincent may not know how to cope with Nanaki in full on excited teenager mode than anything else.

They'll be fine, Nelly thought as she looked over at Aerith when she heard her speak. Shaking her head loosely, Nelly put her drink on the bar. "I haven't seen Cloud or Tifa for a while." Truth be told however that could've been misconstrued; the pair were having a little difficulty traversing things. They evidently cared for each other, a lot, but everything that had happened and with memories being messed up, details which should be shared between them were all mixed up and confusing. They were probably off talking, or Tifa talking and Cloud listening...

"I hope they're okay," Aerith said worriedly, they were both very dear to her and she didn't want them falling out.

"Oh, they'll be fine! Tifa will lecture the heck outta Cloud, and he'll just stand there and take it with a few nods and sighs. The usual," Yuffie said while shrugging loosely and smiling happily at Aerith. Though her joking could come off perhaps a little blunt and mean, it was the likely story. She was just trying to make light of the situation because she didn't like seeing Aerith look so worried. "Drink?"

Aerith frowned at her for that, "You can't buy me a drink." She smiled and placed her hands on her hips.

"You caught me, but Nelly can!" Yuffie said while patting Nelly happily on the shoulder again. "Did you know she got paid for a job earlier, and even roped Vincent in too?"

"Oh?!" Aerith's naturally large eyes grew wider than, Nelly swore it as she nudged Yuffie on the shoulder. "Tell me the details!" Her hands were clasped together against her chest as she shuffled between Yuffie and Nelly so she could look at the shorter female with absolute unhindered curious interest.

Yuffie peeked up and over Aerith's shoulder before just leaning around her with a cheeky grin, she enjoyed watching Nelly huffing and puffing and slapping the gil on the counter with more aggression than needed for Aerith's drink. "Hey, if ya'll gonna have boy talk, I'm gonna go elsewhere." Barrett had seemingly been overlooked here as he glanced at the three females.

"Take me with you," Nelly turned and looked at him imploringly.

He laughed and shook his head, "Nah, you're on your own here."

"But...Barrett...why?!" Nelly exclaimed pathetically and dramatically, people in the bar did look at her oddly before she hung her head and looked at her friends, the glee from causing gossip was written all over Yuffie's face while Aerith still stood looking all but extremely eager to hear the gossip.

In fact, when Nelly told the honest facts to Aerith, she seemed almost disappointed. A small pout on her face before spinning and twirling the straw in her drink. "Sorry it wasn't more entertaining..." Nelly said, she had missed out getting harmed and Vincent healing her. That would set Yuffie and Aerith off, and she didn't want that. Something about him doing that just had her wanting to keep it to herself, she couldn't explain it.

It was only a little while after that Cid appeared, having seemingly had enough of working on the Broncho, Cloud and Tifa did make an appearance too. The pair seemed as they usually did but clearly some words had been spoken, it just seemed like something had happened. But the group had accidentally taken over the bar area, not in any bad way, but there seemed more of them than resort goers at the moment. But in saying that, when it got darker and the band which were playing chilled music changed to something more upbeat, people appeared then. Seemingly there was some sort of event on tonight, it went from just them to them plus all sorts who were currently staying at the resort.

Yuffie with her boundless energy wasted no time in dragging Nelly into dancing, badly. Despite both being agile and quick on their feet, it didn't mean either could really dance. It was more of them avoiding bumping into each other and others around them who were also dancing. Tifa and Aerith did laugh over them, they looked ridiculous but were both giving it such a good go they couldn't help but give them credit for trying. Seeing as how they were having so much fun, Aerith clapped her hands and jumped off her stool and decided to join in. She was always up for trying new things, and badly dancing with her friends did look fun.

Tifa declined the offer, taking her drink and sitting down for a moment although that didn't last long before Yuffie decided she wasn't having it; they were all doing this. Their male friends got a scrutinised look before Yuffie decided that she'd rather not try. Cid seemed happy to be sitting at the bar, drink in his hands laughing over something that Barrett had said, and Vincent and Nanaki were quietly at the bar too; though Nanaki was watching with a curious look. With a shrug, Yuffie chanced it then, she had no clue if he could dance but they were about to find out...

Not that they were actively in conversation, but Vincent being left on his own had him looking about the place and accidentally listening to the conversation Barrett and Cid were having. It was nothing overly important and by the time Vincent came back from his thoughts, he realised that Cid had disappeared, but Cait had sprung up from somewhere...it was bad to admit but Vincent forgot the cat robot momentarily...not that that seemed to matter because he let out an excitable noise and went running along the bar, much to anyone's annoyance and leapt. Nelly caught him as easily as anything and spun with her hands under his little arms.

"She gets on with him more than what she thinks she should," Barrett's voice had Vincent's head turning to look at him slowly. Barrett seemed less inclined to look perturbed by the ever-silent actions and looks that Vincent gave. Lifting his glass up, Barrett nodded at the pair, "I think deep down she knows she can't wholly trust him. I'm inclined to agree, ya know?" Vincent narrowed his eyes a little then, he could understand in a way. "He's Shinra built, he'll always side with them, which ain't always gonna go over well, ya know?"

"It causes conflict."

Barrett looked almost surprised he got a reply yet paused drinking and nodded. "Drink?" He dared to offer, not that he was surprised that Vincent shook his head, his face seemingly inclining more into the collar of his cloak and his arms staying crossed against his chest. No one could say Barrett didn't try; he was only trying now because whether Vincent realised it or not, but when Cait went flailing in the air, little arms and legs going everywhere and Nelly happily jumping catching him and further jumping around had the slightest of amused noises coming from him. Barrett was trying here, and something had amused Vincent, he could work with that. He could always work with helping the man maybe get to know them all better.

"When I moved to Midgar, I met her trying to break into a Shinra building; security wouldn't let her through, but man...the noise and ruckus she was making, she can be loud when she wants to be. She was one scrappy teenager, shit, she's still scrappy now." Barrett chuckled to himself remembering exploring Midgar with baby Marlene in his arms, he had heard about the mako filled wonder-city, and wanted to see just what was what. Did he expect to pay witness to a teenager making a scene at a Shinra building? No. But he had watched and witnessed them basically throw her out, her form tumbling down the stairs until she landed on the pavement.

Vincent tilted his head slightly, his eyes looking over Barrett's reminiscing expression. "You've known her a long time?"

"Damn, she was what...16 when I first met her, I think. Much like most undercity kids, she hadn't had much of an upbringin'. She's been with me since then." Barrett inhaled simply and nodded at the golden eyed female in question. "She's as good as another daughter as Marlene is." He never knew he'd be the type of man to take in others, but how could he not when both Nelly and Marlene clearly needed someone?

"What was she trying to do?" Vincent's question had Barrett looking at him confusedly, "The Shinra building."

Barrett inhaled deeply then, feeling actually maybe after a few drinks he had got a little too liberal with information sharing. "Her sister worked for them, she went missin', Nelly is adamant they did somethin'. Think she was a scientist, or somethin'. She never really explained what her sister did, just that Shinra took her away." Barrett explained, that was all he knew on the matter, it was something Nelly never really openly shared. But Barrett watched Vincent's eyes grow a little darker before he looked back at their mutual friend. "Listen, I don't wanna be that guy...but if you hurt her, ya best watch your back." Barrett seemed relatively sober then lifting his gun-arm up slightly, so Vincent got the message.

In return Barrett just got a blank look from Vincent, he shut his eyes and shook his head minutely. "That is not my intention."

The noise which Barrett came out with had Vincent's eyes snapping open and him straightening up and looking at him with a firm frown. "So, you have intentions, huh?" The wide grin plastered on Barrett's face had Vincent frowning more, if that was even possible. Barrett wasn't sure joking at his expense was a good idea, even more so considering his eyes seemingly started to glow a little bit. Letting out a loud laugh, Barrett waved his hand at Vincent, "Don't take everythin' so seriously! Literally, everythin's so messy and confusin', each and every day is different with new problems, if we don't have moments like this, good moments where we can just be ourselves then what is the point of us fightin' for a better future?"