[u][b]Steve Miller - The Hull[/b][/u]

"But, I missed my manners. I'm sorry for your loss, of yer dad, and yer ship, both." she said as reached her arms around his waist and hugged him, a pleasant suprise. 

"And I for yours", Steve said, as he returned her gesture with the arm he had around her waist. Losing their family was one thing they had in common, though Steve thought it impolitic to mention it....to easy to come out the wrong way. It was certainly interesting to know how their liveliehoods complemented each other....there were plenty of things that couldn't be fabricated on a drill press or lathe, people in his line of work needed scavvers...or prospectors as they occasionally called them in Halifax...to recover them from other, ususally broken, devices. 

"A mechanic is more than handy to have around.", Corrine continued, "I bet you'd find a lot of work in these parts, helpin' to repair boats and generators and the like. She then lifted her head from his chest and looked right at him. "Hell," she said as she winked, "if you wanted a challenge, I'd let ya try and put something back together after I've taken it apart. See how good ya really are. I'd even let you borrow my tools."

Something about the way Corrine was looking at him....or maybe it was the inflection of her voice, suggested to Steve there might be more than one meaning to her proposal. Whether that was true or not, it was becoming clear that his luck was finally changing for the better. 

"You're on", Steve said with a grin as he hugged her waist again, "What did you have in mind?"