Jackie almost jumped as the tiny woman voiced her discomfort.

"Oh, um, really sorry. Did I startle you? Didn't mean to startle you or anything." He recoils his hand away from her sheepishly. "Yeah, um, I'm really sorry. I'm a hugger. Do my best not to make the whole physical contact thing unwelcome as best I can and what not, but it's how I sorta communicate with people. Just figure that I'm gonna be keepin' you guys safe for the next century or so, so we all ought to try and get to know eachother. Did anyone want an apple? I forgot if anyone answered."

He grins good naturedly down at her as he bites down into his apple again, the crunch of fruit crumbling against the mighty grinding teeth of the genetically engineered monstrosity that is the Authority Security Division.

"I've also got some, uh, chocolate and stuff. I know you guys don't usually get paid very much before you get entry to the party proper, so I thought I would, um, sorta make up for it. Thought we could, like, have a bit of a party when we get on board. Shipwarming?" he glanced back down to Astrid, "is shipwarming a thing? Is that something people do? You know a lot about ships, is that something people do?" He lowered his voice almost conspiratorially as he sought confirmation for his idea.