Laila
Laila paused just inside the doorway of the bar, letting her eyes get accustomed to the low light. It looked like every dodgy dive bar she had ever visited on Earth. She breathed in and, yes; it smelled like every dodgy dive bar as well. It wasn't big, and it wasn't busy, but it was just what she was looking for.
As she made her way to the bar, she drew the attention of some customers. That was to be expected, she thought–the customers were aliens who until recently had never seen a human before. She caught the eye of one or two and nodded in a friendly gesture. Her boots squeaked on the slightly sticky floor. Lovely.
Sliding onto a stool at the bar, Laila scanned the occupants. The place seemed to be just starting to fill up, and there were many Taurean warriors, in a uniform that looked similar to Space Force’s combat trousers and jacket, except the Taureans all wore arm bands of varying colors featuring different symbols.
There were a few solo drinkers with definite 'leave me alone' vibes, but that suited her just fine. A quiet drink and a place to sit with her thoughts was what she wanted. Somewhere to shake off the slightly agoraphobic feeling that space travel always left her with. Being sucked out of an airlock was not a death she ever wanted, and the thought of all that... nothingness? Well, it made her feel insignificant. Small.
The bartender smiled as he approached. “What can I get for you?”
Good question. What did they drink here?
“Err... I'm new here. What can you recommend?”
His smile widened, mischief making his eyes twinkle. “It depends on your tastes. Do you want something sharp and spicy? Or what about sweet and bubbly?”
Laila shook her head at the idea of a sparkly drink.
“Alright, smooth and mellow it is.”
She couldn't help but laugh. “That sounds about right.”
With practiced movements, he poured liquid from various bottles into a glass for her, presenting the bright green drink a minute or two later.
“Green.” She looked at it dubiously. Something that looked like engine coolant couldn’t taste good, surely.
“Try it,” the bartender encouraged at her sceptical look.
Laila picked up the glass, looked at the contents quizzically, and sniffed it. The scent reminded her of a smoky whiskey.
It couldn't be all that bad, could it? After all, she was here to blow off some steam before she had to face the music tomorrow.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” She tossed it back in one swallow.
The bartender's eyes widened in surprise. “Oh! You're not meant to—”
Normally cautious, it reminded Laila why she never jumped into things without looking. She coughed, struggling for air. “I'm ok... I'm ok!” she managed, eyes watering.
The bartender thrust a glass at her. “Here, drink some water.”
Laila gulped it down, the warmth of the alcohol spreading through her limbs.
A deep laugh, more a chuckle, caught her attention and she looked over toward the sound. Eyes smarting, she blinked rapidly to clear her vision in the dim light of the bar. A few seats further along the bar sat one of the largest men she had ever seen in her life. How she had missed him when she'd sat down, she did not know. He turned and slid sinuously from his seat and walked towards her. She straightened and smoothed her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ears.
He was huge. Gigantic.
Easily seven feet tall, he was also the most stunningly gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. But he wasn't human, Laila realized.
She had to tilt her head so far back she was in danger of falling off the stool. Her gaze took him in, her usual formality lost as she drank in the sight of him. A black, long-sleeved tee-shirt clung to his muscled torso, outlining a physique that professional football players would envy. Well-worn pants, similar to jeans, clung to his thick thighs. She kept her wits long enough not to linger on the rather significant bulge... downthere.
Oh, boy.
Embarrassed at how she had been staring, her eyes snapped up to meet his. Laila felt herself blush as a pair of intense and unnaturally green eyes pierced her. They were the color of peridot, almost cat-like in their intensity, and they crinkled at the corners in humor. Apart from his size and those eyes, he looked human. She wondered what else about him was not human like...
“It's an acquired taste,” he said, motioning to her empty glass.
The man's voice was like liquid silk, rolling along her skin in a wave. She shivered. That deep voice had her wanting to forget why she was here, on the other side of the galaxy, a long way from home.
