Untilted WIP by Dan Bieger

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Since I am his guest, we can assume he is aware of what my status might be." She didn't wait for an answer from Howard, just raised her hand to wiggle a finger at the bartender washing glasses at the far end of the bar.
"Ma'am, I didn't mean to pry. We don't need an explanation."
But, Senor Viejo was already en route and the woman chose to wait his arrival.
"Elder, this man desires to know my status on this world. Am I legal or illegal? He seems to believe those are the only choices available. I told him you could answer much better than I."
Howard's brain went into overdrive processing all the information. Elder? On this world?' The only choices available? So diverted by his own reactions he almost missed Senor Viejo's answer: "As far as I know, the legalities of your visit have never been addressed by anyone on this world in a position with the authority to make such a determination. I cannot answer for all the other worlds. There may be rulings either way available but I have never taken the time to research the problem."
"So, then, how would you propose I answer this man?" They were both enjoying themselves immensely at the expense of poor Howard who just sat there with a very dazed look.
"Oh, senorita, how you answer Howard is your choice. You can claim legal status or otherwise. Howard is in no position to do anything either way and." he grinned at Howard, "knowing Howard, he wouldn't want to do anything anyway. Isn't that so, Howard?"
Howard didn't respond. He looked at Senor Viejo and then at the blonde and then back at the bartender. His failure to respond gave the woman a chance to add more fuel to the fire:
"I will just identify myself as a visitor to your homeland, a tourist, perhaps, and leave it at that. How does that suit you, sir?"
"Was never no officer, ma'am. Always worked for a livin.' The words burst out in knee-jerk response to her words, were in the air between them before he fully realized what he'd said and, when it sank in, he just chuckled at himself. The laughter re-stabilized his thinking. Senor Viejo was smiling as well as he turned to walk back to his washing glasses.
"So, are you going to explain The Chapel to me or must we go further into my legal, professional, and social status?"
The words might have had an edge to them but the delivery was sardonic indicating she expected the question to be taken as rhetorical.
"Now, hold on, ma'am. In these parts, we generally get the introduction out o' the way afore we go plowing into topics that take some thinkin'. My name's Howard." He extended his right hand as he identified himself and the woman took a few seconds to consider that hand as if she were searching some data base for translation. When she reached the conclusion she wanted, her grip was firm without being a challenge: "Hello, Howard. My name is Yuhwa."
Howard gave a little bow of his head. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am. Is it okay if I call you by your name or do your customs require something else altogether. Once met a Chinese lady who I managed to irritate because I never got her surname and her given name straightened out in my brain.