life hadn't changed as much on earth as one would have thought with aliens
the planet didn't end up flying into panic
everyone had kept their fingers on the triggers but nothing ended up happening
at least that's what the history recordings said in school
earth just became a trading post
we didn't have many inhabitants around and multiple races found the planet interesting, but shockingly, not a threat
maybe we weren't
strange thing was the races ended up going native here and there
humans ended up having the innate talent for not really caring where they stuck their penises/vaginas
it was a rarity among the stars
so that was humanity's hat
big scary killing machines that also appeased sexual deviants throughout the stellar community
earth governments sort of rolled with it
hard not to with no real way to oppose races eith tech eons past ours
we were in the midst of colonizing Mars when they showed us faster than light travel
overnight we had secret alien sugar daddies who wanted a cabin in New Canada with a life partner named Steve
or whatever floated their boat
that led to you
roughly 2 centuries after the planet was discovered and became a teeming port for all manner of space faring races
you were young
had money in your pocket
bored on a Friday night
as much as things change, they stay the same
you were at a bar
two drinks in
eyeing the cute green thing dancing to the music
not a care in the world
you were working up the nerve to show off Terran diplomacy in its finest form
occasionally the bar tender would roll over to check the status of your glass
blurt out the electric facsimile of a demand to know if you wanted another
music throbbed in your skull
that dancer out on the floor was not particularly graceful
but the xeno was by themselves
opportunity

you hadn't the faintest clue what they were
it was a race that vaguely resembled an earth mantis
obviously humanoid
green exoskeleton plates formed a natural armor, clothes or the modesty to wear them apparently not needed
perhaps a cultural thing
hard to say
the exoskeleton meant they technically weren't in the nude
normally bugs would turn off people
you'd heard horror stories of weird bedroom habits or live in situations
plus there was just the assumption based off earth life
hard to see something that looks like a giant spider and not apply it to a race of giant arachnids
here though, you weren't really seeing a threat
they came up to your shoulder at best
no blade like limbs
just arms awkwardly flailing around
you knocked back another drink
humans were sort of unique compared to most other sentients in the galactic theater
most races didn't start off as persistence hunters
patience wasn't a uniquely human characteristic but it was one they were good at
it had been brought up before
you'd bide your time
try to put on the charm
in a minute or two
hunter you may be, rejection was a bitch
so maybe despite all the macho man "monkey run up to bug and smash" inner pep talks you were tense
worst she could say is no, right?

five drinks into some blue liquor and you were ready
it was game time
you were going to treat the bug lady to a magical evening and you were hoping she didn't eat your head like you'd seen of earth bugs on the historic videos
you were ready
you were mean
you were...
no
fuck it
you wouldn't screw it up
you paid your tab to the bar tender machine
then focused on the task at hand
you formulated a game plan
would she respond well to compliments?
did she speak your language?
you wouldn't get far if you had to rely of a series of clicks and chirps
but you had to grab life by the balls
that liquid courage ran through your body like fire
she finally broke the dance when you approached
you worried you made a bad move when she paused but went forward anyways
the xeno had her yellow eyes on you
they weren't like a bug's
at least from what you could tell
she'd been so lost in the music she had them closed the whole time
no idea how she hadn't knocked over a waitress
you tried not to be a creep and stare
instead, you laid on the charm best you could and asked if she'd like to dance with you
she agreed
one step down
you'd make a fool of yourself out here but maybe you'd get lucky tonight