"Half Kusarian, Half Libertonian, Navy, always assumed to be some trigger happy moron or heartless bastard who lives only to kill people and shoot things.." She looked down again. "Sometimes.. I feel so alone while I'm off duty.. like I don't belong, that I'd be better off in the border worlds, living amongst the Zoners.."
''One of the women I serve with Is half Bretonian, half Kusarian. She's not the most gentle sort I grant you, but she's loyal, Intelligent, cunning and very, very good at what she does. She has not let social bounds stop her, and neither have you. I've seen you in space, you're not a trigger happy moron, and your certainly not heartless. You have a very good heart, a noble and strong one. But'' he said pausing ''Loneliness plauges us all. You must have friends in the navy. Give me a name, pick a friend if you will.''
"Allen Bradley.. John Armada.. yea I know the few people I work with.. but I don't see them much outside. They got lives, real lives, not like mine where they waste all day and night working.." She looked at the ceiling, leaning back.
Nicole smiled a little. "Easy for you to say, I've never even seen them out of uniform, I have no idea what they do, plus.. if I ain't drunk, I'm soooo fricken shy. You'd never be able to tell that, 'cause I'm either drunk or in uniform around ya." Her speech didn't worsen from here, but it wasn't getting any better either, while she could drink more, everything she said if she did would become rambling nonsense. "I spose I could try.."
''You should try...but maybe when you're sober.'' he smiled at her ''For now, I believe sleep might be in order for you. Although I find it hard to consider you shy, just be yourself. If it doesn't work then it's not to be, but don't let that put you off. Enjoy it, I did not invite a drunk girl out did I? I invited you, sober, wonderfuly shy, you out. And it worked''
"Sleep..? Sleep... Maybe sleep'll be good.. Oh I'm sooooo shy..I suppose we both need sleep.. Maybe I should call my brother." Her mind lingered off, her speech became rabble of whatever was in her mind at the moment, though shortly after she fell silent, looking towards the man. "This was nice..."
He smiled warmly ''It was...I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.'' he gazed at her intently for a moment before he released her, standing and returning the chess board to Tom the bar man before coming back. ''Call your brother lass, time marches onward and you need rest''
Nicole sent a quick signal to her brother from a small device. Within a short time, a man appeared inside the bar, looking a little like her sister, walking over to the two. "You must be the man she met, Miles Prower, you got her right drunk did you?" He held her close, pulling his sister into a hug, to which she drunkenly leaned on him.
![[Image: K21Vaai.png]](https://i.imgur.com/K21Vaai.png)
