[center][h1][color=#4682B4]Scott 'Heartbreak' Valentine[/color][/h1][/center]

Scott looked around at the - mostly - smiling faces of his squadron and grinned as Freyja raised her beer in his direction, returning the gesture with a tip of his own toward her and a wink. He laughed and joined in the cheers as Amelia called out, and returned Yuna's toast, before Mykhailo stepped to his side. He nodded at the younger man, that tired smile still on his rugged features as he raised his bottle to him.
[color=#4682B4]"Hey, Bosley. What's up?"[/color]

[quote=@Letter Bee]
"So, umm... it's been a long night for all of us; it's almost dawn."

His next words were, "I hate to ask this, but... how do I talk to people? And by people, I mean the rest of the squadron? How do I make friends when my money doesn't matter, my good looks are canceled out by my bad or nonexistent manners, and well, waiting for people to approach me is crass, right?"
[/quote]

Scott almost spat a mouthful of beer across the apron at the question, it took him so much by surprise. His mismatched eyes blinked as he spluttered down the beer and considered his answer, swishing his beer around as he thought.
[color=#4682B4]"I'd hardly call myself an expert,"[/color] he started, with an amiable shrug and a gentle smile. [color=#4682B4]"But I dunno; I guess I appreciate you askin' me and thinking I know somethin' about it. I mean, hmm... We ain't had much time to talk to one another or do anything that isn't related to the mission so far. It's been hard to get to know each other and how we all tick yet. Not to mention, there's been a lot of shuffling around, people comin' and goin'. Mostly I'd just say... don't try and force it. And maybe... well. Not trying to be rude, Brightspark, but maybe just... relax a little about it? Friendships take time to happen, and it takes time to get to know other people too. Sometimes you just gotta, go with the flow and let things happen, I s'pose. Pick up on the vibe and mood, and live in the moment, go along with what's going on, and not try to, mm", [/color] he circled with the bottle trying to pick the words. [color=#4682B4]"Not try and [i]plan[/i] to be friends with people, and just... I guess, relax into being around them? Take things for what they are, warts and all, and make the most of it?"[/color] He shrugged and shook his head with an apologetic smile. [color=#4682B4]"Guess I can't give you better than that, I ain't really used to talkin' about this kinda stuff or thinking about it so much. I just... be myself and if that's not good enough for someone, well; that's not my problem, 'cos I ain't got anything to prove to them. They're the one missing out, hah! I'm old enough and experienced enough to know who I am, and be happy with it." [/color] he grinned and clapped the younger, smaller man on the back heartily and clinked his bottle against Mykhailo's coke bottle 
[color=#4682B4]"For now, just enjoy the moment. We've completed our mission, it's time to relax. Have fun!"[/color]

With that, he took another beer, having finished that one, as well as picking up a chilled bottle of soft drink, pressing it into Fuka's hands and giving her shoulder a firm squeeze as he nodded to her. 
[color=#4682B4]"I remember you don't drink, so hope that'll do. And you did a great job up there. Thanks for having my back, and all the others too. Good to know I can rely on you when I need to, Peacenik"[/color] he gave a small, friendly smile and knocked his bottle against her own. 
[color=#4682B4]"While now's not the time to get too into serious stuff - We'll have to get together and talk tactics and command sometime. I'm sure you've got some ideas about things, and if we're gonna trust each other, I'm sure it'd help if we're on the same page"[/color]

[center][h1][color=violet]Kat 'Kitten' Kane[/color][/h1][/center]

Kat had mingled with the group, talking to the transport and helo pilots for a while as they had demanded details of the combat portion of the mission over Libya with excited questions to her, and she'd given her retelling of the events, including her downing of an enemy fighter with a measure of humility that had earned her various high-fives, fist-bumps and slaps on the back. As their discussion had moved on to the relative aesthetic merits of the various fighters the squadron had, she moved on through the group, seeking out Freyja and politely easing herself into a position near the nordic woman nodding and smiling to her, and raising her bottle for a toast.
[color=violet]"Valkyrie; you were pretty amazing up there. You make it look easy,"[/color] she said with a grin and a chuckle. [color=violet]"Definitely good to know you've got my tail covered when we're flying. I'd hate to be on the other end of your sights"[/color]

Wolf hugged Amelia back in a bear-hug, ruffling her hair as well as she spoke to him, the surrounding mechanics and crew laughing and cheering them both. 
"Ach, I had no worries you would, Little Sparrow. You look after her, as much as she looks after you, and I make sure that happens. It's a labor of love, yah? Nothing less than the best for my girl, and for the rest of you all".

Snowman and Lily approached Yuna, the tall Norwegian grinning at her, while the shorter, dark-skinned copilot nudged her with an elbow. 
"So, I hear you did some fancy trick with an air-to-air missile, and then there was a lightshow? We could almost see it on our way back here. The horizon lit up!" 

Meanwhile, Traveller had drifted around to Ximena, flashing her a smile and raising his bottle for a toast.
"Congrats on the kills - I hear you were pretty spectacular up there, Jefe. Sometimes I'm jealous we don't get to see as much of the action as you all do"

Showgirl stood alongside Stingray's Seahawk, looking up at the impressive plane with it's faceted appearance, before looking to Ayvee and raising her bottle in a toast of appreciation to the pilot. "Congrats on the successful mission. Always good to see you all back safe and sound!"

[@Letter Bee], [@Smike], [@Finetales], [@Damo021], [@AvaP]