Neither Dasin nor Solae were a particularly gifted cook, but Dasin intuitively knew how to improvise with the ingredients they had on hand, and Solae had a treasure trove of recipes and information through Mia that guided them through to an edible end product. The taste of their meals ranged from adequate to good, though the plating left much to be desired, but perhaps most importantly, the process had genuinely become the first stepping stone of a friendship. Their relationship was still in the beginning stages, but they had grown from polite respect to casual familiarity. They were still discussing how finely a particular starchy root had to be chopped for the dinner dish as they served the rest of the group their platters. Steam curled off the glazed and baked protein entree, a meat curated in laboratories on Zatis where there was no real pasture for livestock, with a vegetable medley side seasoned with herbs. There was no reason to dip into bars and dry rations when Ten had provided more luxurious produce for the short-term.

"How did it go?" the duchess asked Rosaria conversationally as she sat down at the table. Dasin took his place next to Yarue. Socialization had helped to ease the species barriers, but it had not eradicated them completely, and perhaps never would. Idly Solae wondered if the pair of Syshin men would come to treat each other as a substitute twin. In the future she would need to find a way to approach the topic of mates. It felt cruel to have her beloved so close to her when they had not ever had the opportunity to seek out the same sort of companionship. After they resolved matters with the Kalderi they could broach the subject and determine if the Bonaventure could accommodate another couple. She was relatively certain it could be modified to do- but first they had to find the time and resources to make basic repairs the vessel sorely needed.

"I don't want to discuss it," Rosaria stewed as she plopped in her seat. The more distance they put between the ship and Thorne, the more the teenager acted her age. It was strangely reassuring to see the youth brooding. They could never fully undo the trauma and damage caused by a slaver raising a child in her image, but they could do their best to breathe hope into her, to give her as much patience, caring, and understanding as was within their capabilities.

"Don't let how good of a shot Rene is discourage you," she said with a smile. "Ruggedly handsome and quick-footed as he is, I know for a fact there are some things he struggles with. You ought to how quickly he becomes frustrated when he's trying to manually pilot the Bonaventure. And if it's any consolation, you have more potential than I do for physical strength." Solae picked up her utensils and began to carefully slice her filet into bite-sized pieces. No one was supervising her nor judging her etiquette, but it was a habit that was not worth trying to fight, not unless the situation demanded.

"What do you mean?" Rosaria asked, noticeably mollified. Dasin and Yarue gazed at her with rapt attention; they were also curious as to why she was able this assertion. In their eyes the two human female's chief difference was their age. How the elder one jumped to such a factual conclusion was beyond the scope of their knowledge.

"Before I was born, my parents made some modifications to me, one of which was to ensure this hair color," she said calmly with a gesture towards the unnaturally golden lockets. "No one can be perfect. In order for me fit their overall vision, they made sacrifices in other areas, which imparted corresponding limitations. All four of you have endurance superior to mine," she admitted with grace and dignity. Another noblewoman would not dare admit her weakness. In order for this quintet to operate effectively, Solae wanted to be candid, so that they could compliment each other without pride crippling their efforts. It was a small price to pay.

"Are you good with the pistol?" Rosaria asked after a short pause.

"Not as good as Rene," she conceded. She and Rene both knew she was a fine shot. Recent history had proved it came down to a life and death scenario she could handle the weapon better than most, as her focus under extreme conditions, her steady and measured hand, and steel determination kept her from mishandling a firearm. It was the psychological component that hindered her. Solae's empathy and compassion made it exponentially harder for her to reconcile the choice between saving herself at the expense of another or allowing herself to suffer a potentially mortal injury.