"It's just drinks, Liya, we ent going skydiving."

"It ain't the drinks," Liya retorted. "It's slavers. One tried to get me, an' all it took was me goin' to the bathroom alone."

A hand came heavily down on Liya's head, ruffling her hair. "That's cuz people underestimate you." LIya whirled on Hawk, who snatched his hand away with a grin, adding, "Ain't no slaver going to try that shit on me."

"You already got got once!" Liya told him accusingly, smoothing her hair back down, but Hawk was unperturbed.

"That was differnt, an' you know it. You two have fun, an' I'll leave a message with the construct up the hall when I get to Mari's after we're done."

He hopped over the railing, dropping easily the single story down to the ground, tenting his huge wings to balance himself.

"Fine!" Liya snapped after him. "Just be careful! An' don't get separated!"

"We'll be as glue," Teige promised, as Hawk joined him.

Liya stood silently for a moment next to Yoshi, watching as Hawk and Teige began to stroll away. Finally, she called, "Love you, Hawk!"

"Love you too," Hawk called back, and Teige's ear twitched.