Tia barely spared a glance at Kris and Amsel as they entered the bar. She had been around long enough to see all manner of people, augmented or not, and the sight of an enhanced human and his android companion was hardly something that would draw more than a passing thought from her. Instead, she took a slow sip of her drink, watching them over the rim of her glass as they approached. She noted the way Kris carried himself, still riding the tension from the chaos earlier, and Amsel’s ever-calculating gaze scanning the room, as if assessing threats. They were both alert—rightfully so—but at least they were here, alive.
"You two took your time," Tia finally said, her voice calm but edged with her usual sharpness. "But then again, Zoners can be an annoying bunch from time to time." She leaned back slightly, rolling her shoulders to ease out some of the residual stiffness from the earlier ordeals. Livadia was one of the safer places in the Edge Worlds, but she never let her guard down completely.
She tapped her fingers against the side of her glass for a moment before shifting her weight and moving closer to Diana, making room. "Let me offer you my seat," she said, gesturing toward the spot across Diana. "I believe you two would prefer to sit together." It was less a question and more of a statement, as if she had already decided it was the right course of action.
As Kris and Amsel settled in, Tia studied them with quiet curiosity. They had survived the madness of Omega-58, the dark matter storm, and the ever-dangerous path through Thuringia. They had made it through with their hulls intact and their minds still sharp—perhaps shaken, but not broken. That alone was worth a nod of respect.
She lifted her glass again, swirling the liquid inside before taking another drink. "Well now," she said, exhaling as she set it down, "I think we can share our other stories. Forget about what happened today. I think we have a lot to share between us. If you are all up for it, that is..."
Her tone was more of an invitation than a command, but there was an undeniable weight behind her words. She was never one for pointless small talk, but after everything they had endured, maybe it was time for something different—something that didn’t involve running, fighting, or barely scraping by.
Tia looked at the others expectantly, waiting to see who would be the first to break the silence.
