Echo couldn't decide if the guy's obvious attempt was hilarious or ridiculous. Her proclivities aside, she didn't have the guts just to make the approach like that, so maybe she was a little envious too. The Guinness was mostly gone.

The hybrid finished it off with a couple of gulps, passed the mug over the bar with an expression of carefully reserved commiseration. If she put an extra buck or two in the tip jar, would that be a good gesture of female solidarity?

"I'll just have a refill, minus the familiarity."