Snippet #889186

Nick grasped the young woman's hand warmly and replied in French, "Thank you Sophie, but yes I am a Yankee. I decided to learn the languages of all of my comrades here when I signed up for the program, make things a little more comfortable for everyone, no?"

Her eyes fluttered a little bit, the sure sign of hiding where she was looking. Nick was used to that kind of treatment when meeting someone, especially another competitor. Sizing up the other in the few seconds you have before engaging was vital to victory. But Sophie neither quivered in apprehension nor squeezed his hand tightly in challenge, instead she only smiled more. 'A very nice smile', Nick decided, 'A confident person hid in plain view just behind it.'

Nick's eyes did not waver from her face, instead he took her in with his peripheral vision: An energetic body tinged with the softness of laziness and perhaps self-absorbsion. 'But she would make a good student, she appears to have the drive.'

"So what are you going to be doing aboard our fine ship Sophie?"