"Nice to meet you, too, Steph," he says, shaking her hand. "I've been here... God, it's five months now, about. What about you?"

He doesn't mind the question; he's used to it, and likely would've asked it himself if she hadn't beaten him to it. It seems to be the shared gauge of experience here. You ask and you know whether to offer help, seek help, or just commiserate.

He laughs softly, shaking his head, as he goes on. "And I'm not a police officer. Military officer, is probably the closest thing. I'm a ship's captain, where I'm from."