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Hurst had made himself comfortable on the couch, reclined a bit with a leg crossed and his hands folded over his stomach. His lidded gaze skimmed over his friend, before they settled with interest on the husky. "Oooh." He hummed, amused. "I was going to ask if there were any ladies in your life, but that answers that." He uncrossed his leg and pushed off the couch, but same to a kneel on the floor, holding out an open palm to the dog.

"Such a gorgeous lady she is." Hurst cooed.

He smiled as he kept his gaze on Noel, patiently waiting for her to come over and inspect him.

"I'm a terrible friend, Cody." He started, finally getting around to the question. "A few months, honestly. Been visiting my mother before coming here. How's post-Navy life been treating you, hm?"

"Noel." He echoed, watching as the husky came over. "What a beautiful name for an equally beautiful creature." With very stunning eyes. He was amused that she placed her paw in his hand, but he held it, and then pressed a light kiss on top of the fur. After all, a lady was a lady.

He then let go, and reached out to place a hand on her head and pet her in earnest.

"That I can see, definitely." He agreed, but a red brow arched and his eyes went alight at the mention of a 'crazy woman' and her 'visiting'. Hurst's smile widened with interest. "Oh? Do tell, but---" He stood, but kept a hand on Noel's head. "Over drinks, my good friend? Just like old times."

His lidded eye smiled widened. "Ah. Of course. I just happen to know of a place." Of course he did.

Hurst lead both Sergei and Noel to an outdoor bar tucked between some streets in the restaurant populated portion of Destiny City. It wasn't a dive, but it wasn't high class, either, a good mix in between. In addition to being outdoors, it also, luckily, had many heaters stationed around the outdoor patio to keep customers warm if the spirits didn't. "To your liking?" Hurst inquired with a tilt of his head as he pulled one of the seats out for himself and settled with ease.

He raised a finger to gain the attention of the barkeep, and ordered a scotch on the rocks for himself. He patiently waited for Sergei to place his own order, planted a hand back on Noel's head to pet her, before picking the conversation back up again. "I'm not sure what I'm more amused by, Cody." He started. "You using air quotes, or the fact that you're here and already have someone flocking. Do tell."

Hurst just smiled. "I do see the irony in your guilting now, in light of how you used to view a friend." His smiled widened a bit. "Your very lovely mother. It was the last known address I had for getting a hold of you, after all." He reached to pat his stomach briefly. "It's amazing I made it out of there without losing this trim figure."

He'd been about to take another sip of his drink, but as Sergei went on to talk about this 'crazy woman', he was glad he didn't. He snorted, and it would have been a waste of brandy if he had misted it across the bar counter top. He couldn't help but look at his friend, genuinely amused and surprised.



He pet Noel, and rose a brow. "I have, yes. It's something a lot of women are into now a days, being a popular romance novel series, and it's resurgence is thanks to the new television series based on the books now..." It must have been safe to assume she loved the show. "I think that's adorable, Cody, that she wants to be your friend. Heaven help her." He took a sip of his drink. "It's no easy feat." He smirked. "What habits are we talking about, here?" A pause.

"You're not wishing a large, rouge, and dreadfully attractive Scotsman will come and ravish you too, are you?"

"I agree. Your mother is a force to be reckoned with."

Amused. He was so amused. Sergei was always an interesting fellow, on top of being a good and solid friend---once one broke through all the icy layers to get there. Hurst nodded a bit, showing he was following along, and deemed it safe to take another sip of his drink as he listened. That proved to be a mistake on his part though, and this time he did choke on his drink.

Being in the Navy for three years, of course Hurst had spent every chance he got making cracks about 'batting for the other team' at the Russian man, knowing very well what his preference was---so for him to finally make a crack back...

"Well played." He grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth with it. He dropped the napkin on the counter, and rose a brow, smiling. "And now you're asking lots of questions and badgering, too? Fascinating." His smile widened, and his eyes danced with mirth. Too amused.

"Also, Cody, I feel obligated to point out that I've heard more about this mysterious---" He made air quotes too, "Crazy Woman, than I've ever heard about Basic Girlfriend---" His favorite name for the woman, and a double meaning, since she was around during the training phase of the Navy, and he hardly ever heard Sergei talk about her. "Make of that what you will." He was already forming his own theories, for fun. "I'm not sure I ever heard those words come out of your mouth. If you can't deal, what will you do then, hm?"

He was having fun, at Sergei's expense, of course.

"No, you ignore. Which is on the other end of the scale of being annoying." He smiled charmingly at his friend. How he loved to instigate and play devil's advocate.

"Yes, yes." He halfheartedly rolled one shoulder. "But my point is that you're talking a lot about her---" For Sergei's standards, anyways, "--Whether it's good or bad, she actually made an impression. Besides, what's wrong with hanging a dashing Scotsman on her wall? It's not any different than the newest model of the Playboy center spread plastered along the walls of everyone's bunk back on the ship." He paused. "But maybe you'd approve if she had a strapping Russian man on her wall, right?" he teased and then laughed.

"Cody, you just said you're not trying to woo her, which is funny you say that, because I wouldn't describe anything you did as wooing, but anyways, you're asking me for advice?" While they both knew Hurst's manners couldn't be described as wooing by any means, but more like charming until a good time was had and then he was gone. On good terms, of course, but still. Nothing solid.

"If you're asking me for advice, then I might as well offer to be a good friend. For you, Cody, I'll take her mind off of you." And they both knew exactly what that entailed.

"Which means I can't woo you, yes. But as far as your Crazy Woman problem goes..."