“No phase thingy is a match for you,” Seth proclaimed.
I paused, jealousy morphing into shock as I watched them cry about a phase variance. I glanced at Monqilcolnen.
“This has happened three times since we left the canteen. It has been a long walk.”
They swayed and would’ve fallen, except I snagged Seth and Monqilcolnen snatched the back of Wyn’s uniform. Seth wound his arms around my neck, his earlier distress disappearing. Wyn went back to tittering incoherently.
“Monqilcolnen, you should get Ensign Wyn back to his quarters.”
He inclined his head, but right as the door started to close, Wyn’s lips tightened and his head jerked back, then he puked on Monqilcolnen, splattering the front of his uniform. Monqilcolnen’s ensuing snarls were cut off by the door.
Seth gave me an easy smile, which made sunlight flood my soul. I asked him, “Did you have fun?”
“It was so much fun. I'm a horrible shot. Like horrible, you know?”
“You have excellent aim in our game.”
“It’s not the same,” he said, words slurred. “I’d like point and it’d pew in another direction, then I’d like move and it goes, you know?”
“Sure.” I had no idea what he was saying.
He grinned before launching at me, head knocking into mine. I grunted, but Seth didn’t pull back and his lips found mine. I grimaced. His breath was a literal trash heap. Still, I returned the kiss.
“You’re cute, you know? Have I told you that?” Seth asked.
“Not recently.”
“We don’t come in blue,” he said. “I never thought I’d like blue, but you’re very cute. Like really cute.”
“I think you’re cute too.”
“I said really,” he pouted.
I started to reassure him, but Seth attacked me again, his mouth pressing frantically against mine. His kiss was sloppy and wet, but I kept my arms about him and returned it. When he tugged on the hem of my shirt, I shifted back, ignoring his sound of protest.
“You are way too drunk for us to continue.”
“I’m not that drunk,” he said, teetering. “I had like one, maybe five drinks. I don’t know. I lost count. It wasn’t that many. Wyn finished a pitcher himself. He can sing loud. Like crazy loud.”
“I thought Urgg was the one who was singing?”
“Wyn out sang them. It was like,” he made a sound like a strangled animal, “loud. You know?”
“I truly don’t.”
He grinned and tried to kiss me again. I evaded him, and Seth barked, “Stop moving.”
“As much as I would love to do this,” I said, staying away from his lips. “You are way too drunk to know what you’re doing, and I’m afraid you’re going to puke on me at any moment.”
With a scoff, Seth shook his head. “I’m not drunk.”
“Yes, you are. Why don’t you go to bed?” I offered, directing him toward his room.
“I’m not even tired. I could probably run around the entire ship. You want to go running?”
“Not particularly.” I didn’t want to end up like Monqilcolnen. “Why don’t you lie down?”
“Are you coming?”
