Carolina didn't mind the lack of a salute. She had known more than her share of officers who would have, though. Even if they were not in uniform or on active duty. It was probably inevitable, considering how removed most officers were from the Marines they commanded. She had been lucky to have been assigned a small squad that fit with her more hands-on approach.
"Scarlett Church." She took the offered hand in a firm grip. He had nice eyes. Confident but not boastful. "Call me Carolina." Even as an adult, she still hated her first name, but Deschain was a Marine and a Marine deserved the respect of knowing her real name. Using it was a different story.
The bartender set down the new pints with a quick, "here you go, sir", just as Carolina's hand was returning to pocket her coin. Reflexively, she found herself quoting her uncle's favorite adage from his time as a Gunnery Sergeant. "Don't call him sir." She told the bartender, the ghost of a smile playing across her lips. "He works for a living."