Snippet #2023634

He lit his own cigar after he gave one to Eli. He was being flattered which he didn't dislike, but he didn't like the uprightness of the military. He walked to a nearby wall at this point and leaned up against it, enjoying the cigar.

"I'd prefer a more casual relationship. I find it hard to get to know someone when your as uptight as the military requires you to be. No sirs, especially considering your older then me. Atomsk if you would. Dunaway even. Just not sir or Commander."

He smirked at his own cliche. Casual in the military. He'd seen it in movies and countless books. It still always gave him a chuckle.

"You'd better not smoke that without me." He said, referring to the cigar Eli had stowed away. "First chance we get i expect us to enjoy that together." He got a grin so big he had to pull his cigar out.

Now it was time to get to the point.

"Eli, I like you. You ain't no stick in the mud. I need an imaginative Second. We've got a lot of people here and I'm not going to be on the ground with you most of the time. I like having a man on the ground i can trust. Normally i would have named my brother, Jon, my second the moment we got here. But he's a military dog. Normally I wouldn't mind it but he's on someones leash this time. I'm not sure who's either. Your someone I liked right off the bat. And someone i can tell I can trust in the future." He paused. Unsure if Eli even wanted the position.

"If I'm unavailable, communications can't reach me, or something happens too fast that puts you in charge. I won't force this on you but I'd enjoy you greatly as someone to work with." He hoped he would.