Tia waved the bartender over with an impatient flick of her fingers, well aware that if she waited for the man to make his rounds naturally, they’d be old and grey by the time he arrived. She didn’t even look at Diana as she spoke.
“Assumption of one’s knowledge is the gravest mistake one can make, even if they assume their own.”
There was a brief silence between them, filled only by the ambient hum of conversations in the bar. The scent of engine grease, burning tobacco, and stale alcohol clung to the air—Livadia wasn’t exactly known for its refinement.
Then, as if shaking off a stray thought, Tia exhaled sharply and leaned forward again, resting her arms on the table. She glanced at Diana, finally meeting her gaze.
“What I’m trying to say is… there’s always something to learn. No matter how much we think we know, there’s always something new, something that challenges the way we see things. Sometimes, it even goes against what we thought we understood. It’s weird, but us having this conversation is proof of that.”
Before Diana could respond, the bartender finally arrived, setting two fresh drinks down with a grunt. Tia grabbed her glass without hesitation, lifting it slightly.
“Try to drink to happy times ahead rather than what happened.” Her voice was steady but laced with something deeper, something unspoken. Then, she took a sip, letting the familiar burn of the alcohol settle in her throat.
The moment of reflection was short-lived, however. Tia paused, frowning down at her drink, then glanced at Diana’s with a raised brow.
“Are we drinking Sidewinders? Why is everyone drinking Sidewinders?” Her confusion was genuine, as if only now realizing the trend. She scoffed slightly, shaking her head before taking another sip. “Is there some kind of rule on this station that I missed? ‘Mandatory Sidewinder consumption or get the hell out’?”
She smirked slightly, a small glimmer of amusement breaking through the usual steel in her demeanor.
