''Yeah...'' he said trailing off. It made him sad to see his House brought so low. His sadness quickly turned to anger and frustration, before those emotions eventually settled as well. ''I'm glad we have people like you standing with us. Say what you want about Liberty, you lot stick around. And I'm glad we got to do this again you...you are a wonderful person to be around''
"We don't abandon our friends, we'll be right there with you until we celebrate victory on whatever their capital is called." She seemed cheerful, but on the inside slightly saddened, how their situation really was coming through the fog of drunkness in her mind. She quickly buried it again, she'd have time for that when she wasn't in the company of a friend. "Really...? Most people wouldn't think so.. I did it because you're the wonderful person here."
"Very true.. good company is rare for me.. atleast I found another person who fits that criteria. I imagine you're good at finding the right people to have a good time with, so atleast I know I'm not just the pawn on an admirals chessboard." She enjoyed the company, and feeling like a normal person rather than some nameless, disposable soldier. "It's nice.."
''I take people as they come. You seemed alright, so I took a chance and it led here. So it worked out, doesn't always but even so. Rather than thinking of yourself so lowly, perhaps try to improve up your situation, even a pawn can take the queen.''
Nicole smiled. "Well, thinking lowly of myself is how I've always been. Take the queen it may, but what move should it make, towards the king?" In an attempt to seem sly and play on words, her drunken mind could only come up with so much in reference to herself and her friend, chess was the topic so she went with it.
''Don't.'' He said firmly ''If you put yourself down, you've already defeated yourself. It's a self-fufilling prophecy, tell yourself you can't do something and you never will. Why can't you do it? You have the ability, all you need now is the will and the motivation, which you can have. The king is the end goal, but the queen is your biggest obstacle, defeat her first, then focus on your prize.''
Nicole began giggling, seemingly for no reason. "I suppose I should stop putting myself down for no reason huh? Just not used to being too confident." She relaxed, looking around with a stupid, drunk smile on her face. "Besides, I'm great at what I do!" She began laughing quietly, she was absolutely drunk and even a normal conversation would get her giggling nonstop.
''I'm sure you are'' he said, fast coming to the realization that she had possibly had all she could drink. ''How are you getting home? You're not flying I hope''
"Nah nah nah.. Miles and I have the yacht moored at the spaceport.. He'll be picking me up whenever I call for him." She continued to look around, then to her friend. "This is nice, don't have many friends, you know? Not too many people like hanging around people like me.." She looked down towards the table, her smile briefly turning to a frown, but her happy attitude quickly returned. "How bout you, you got a good way home tonight?" Her speech was really slurring now, only half of what she was saying was clearly intelligible.
![[Image: K21Vaai.png]](https://i.imgur.com/K21Vaai.png)
