Ryli woke up with a headache, but a peek at the guy in bed next to her was enough to remind her why. She grinned and quietly made her way out of her room.

Down the hall, she caught a glimpse of Risha turning into the bar area. The smell of something delicious cooking momentarily distracted her, but she shook her head and crowed "I definitely win," as she spun into the room.

Risha smirked as Ryli caught sight of Corso putting something onto a plate.

"Do you?"

Ryli quelled her surge of regret and grinned, "Go peek in my room if you don't believe me."

Risha walked down the hall and Ryli turned to Corso.

"What's all this?"

"Breakfast. I figured you two would need a good meal in the morning, so I picked some stuff up last night."

"I didn't know you could cook, Riggs."

He shrugged, "Used to make stuff at Viidu's, when we could get the supplies and it was my turn to cook. I'm not the best, but I do some things well."

Rylia inhaled from the plate Corso handed her. "These are pancakes!"

He handed her some syrup, "You like pancakes?"

She settled down at the bar and dug in. "I love pancakes; we always had them when I was little..." she broke off quietly and then continued, "These are the best I've had in years, Riggs." His smile was blinding. He watched her eat, she noticed.

Risha returned, "I'm impressed Captain. I'll concede this one to you. We'll have to play again sometime."

Ryli paused in eating and smirked, ignoring how Corso turned back to the counter to hide his expression.

Corso heard footsteps through the ship and a deep male voice greeting Ryli and then Risha. He fumbled another pancake onto a plate and silently handed it to the guy. No use in being rude, it'd just get her mad at him anyway. He'd tried it before.

The guy was another Mirialan and Corso blinked, taking the guy's outstretched hand to shake.

"I'm Heathai," the guy said. Those were the same face tattoos Ryli had; what did that mean?

"Corso." He handed him the plate, nodded at his thanks and stole a quick peek at Ryli. She was blissfully shoving mouthfuls of pancakes into her mouth, but at least she was focused on that.

Risha had picked up her plate and was examining him carefully as she ate.

"So, you're Risha's boyfriend?" said Heathai.

Corso sputtered, stammering. Risha raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Nope," in such a tone that shut down further questioning. It was so smooth that Corso was briefly jealous. He wished he could have stopped the conversation like that.

Ryli finished her pancakes and smiled at Heathai, "I'll walk you out," she said cheerfully, but firmly.

The two of them rounded the corner and Risha waited for the hatch to hiss before spinning on Corso. "What the fuck was that?"

He blinked and took a step back.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why didn't you immediately deny we were a couple?"

"I got flustered! Sheesh, Risha, jump down a guy's throat, why don'tcha."

Risha paused and carefully put her plate down. She blocked the exit from the bar and advanced on him.

"What... what are you doing?"

"You didn't deny it, might as well try it out. You might want me." She ran her eyes over him, inhaling and drawing his attention to... Eyes on the ceiling, Riggs, "You're certainly built nicely enough."

"Risha, don't!" Corso blushed. He pressed himself back against the wall and then finally vaulted over the bar into the rest of the room to escape her advance, shaking. She watched this with interest and then folded her arms, smiling.

"So why not me?"

"You know why."

"I want you to say it."

He turned his head away from her, "Because of the Captain."

He heard her laugh, "Alright Farm Boy, that's good enough for now."

Hi head shot up, "For now?"

"And just for the record, I wouldn't have."

"It looked like you were..."

"Nope, I wouldn't do that."

He said sourly, "Why? We don't mean anything to each other. Ruining things between me and the Captain seems like a fun game for you."

She titled her head calmly, not denying that, "Call it a hunch."

Corso's eyes went involuntarily to the door when he realized how long Ryli'd been gone.

"Why don't you just give in to her?" Risha asked, sounding curious.

He scowled, "It's not... that easy."

"Sure it is. Just get in with her when she's in the shower, or..."

"RISHA!" He interrupted.

"Seriously, explain it to me."

"When you treat a woman like that, she never takes you serious after or you don't take her serious, but the Captain, she's special. She deserves to be treated nice."

Risha nodded thoughtfully. "You might not be what she wants."

"Then I'll hang around until I am," he said with only the faintest quiver in his voice.

Risha got a compassionate look on her face that she quickly wiped away.

"You're too nice, Corso," Risha said, "It's going to get you hurt." Then she turned and walked out of the room.

That was a weird conversation. He thought uncomfortably, Or maybe you just don't want to think about what she said.