"Like Alastrians," she said. Another unfortunate truth they had in common. Although it wasn't so much about their behavior as their value on the black market.

She reached out, putting a hand on his shoulder. She gave it a tiny squeeze.

Shoulders were easier than hands, for so many reasons.

"I love Humans, most of the time. They're creative and vibrant. They come up with clever ideas. They're constantly moving, constantly changing." She paused. "But they can also be very stubborn, sometimes. Set in their ways. So determined not to be at the bottom of the pile that they sometimes throw others beneath them. It's important to remember the good things about them, even when they're being...rude."