The two girls laughed easily enough, although Veronika felt a bit tense at times. She had conflicted feelings for "Sandi." On the one hand, she greatly enjoyed the woman as a friend. She was so warm, open, and just as soft in her personality as she was snuggly in body. There did not appear to be a malevolent drop in her, and she was the sort of woman who Veronika would have loved to known when she was still pretending to be a man. But on the other hand, she still had those sorts of feelings for women as well. Even though in America, as in Russia, it seemed socially forbidden to act on them. But the thought of waking up to that charming face and gorgeous body every morning just set her on fire and made her pray for the strength of her lower bindings - not that much still happened down there, but if any would could ....<br/><br/>But from a completely different angle, she was a very good seamstress and costume maker and keeping a professional contact could be all the world of difference in getting that big break she desired so much. The last thing she wanted to do was throw it all away for a probably unwanted romantic advance. She sighed a little inside as she realized she must never act on her urges, but keep them repressed, so that Sandi never suspected how she really felt.<br/><br/>She was just coming to terms with this when the two giggling girls were interrupted by the exact opposite, a very stern man strode across the little diner to them. Veronika looked amazed as he approached. Not only was the man in excellent shape, with a very regal face, but he was black! There weren't any black men in Russia, at least that she had ever met, and most of her nation had never spoken to one. She had heard all sorts of rumors about their bestial nature, propaganda about how they were horrifically mistreated in America, and read books that said they were no different than anyone else. She didn't know what the truth was. She'd seen several about of course, but having never spent much time in America before her defection she had only the experience of passing a few on the street to rely on. And here was one, walking right for her? What should she do?<br/><br/>She would look nervous as he walked over to her. What was he after her for? Was he a big casting agent? No, his clothes were too straight laced for something like that. Oh no was it some sort of problem with her apartment? With her paperwork? She looked a bit more nervous as he approached and - oh he was here for "Sandi." She breathed a sigh of relief.  "Good afternoon Mister." She said with a smile that was a tiny bit flirtatious as he greeted them.<br/><br/>She was about to say something more when they were yet again interrupted. A lummox of a man came from behind her and challenged the black man. Veronika gave him a very skeptical look. She wanted to say 'and if he was what would<em>you</em>do about it?' The lummox was not as strong, more flabby, and from the way they moved not nearly as formidable as the black man. But she knew that as much as a black man standing up to a white man was considered rude, a woman standing up to a man was even worse. Thankfully Sandi seemed to know how to handle this.<br/><br/>She glanced between them after Sandi's announcement though. "What?" She stammered. "This I don't believe at all." She put her hands on her hips and glared at them. Had she seen through this act? Was she onto them? Were they busted? No.<br/><br/>"They give you<em>driver</em>!?" She said to Sandi, sounding shocked and dismayed, her hands and shoulders falling at once. "They tell me I am not even allowed to eat more than one sandwich." She looked a bit upset at learning where she fell on the totem pole. She glanced at the man quickly, as if worried what he might think. "And it is not for waistline." She said, remembering to stick to her exaggerated accent. "I do aerobics every day." She said, straightening her back a little so that he could see all the hard work paid off.<br/><br/>She felt a bit foolish showing off like that, but she didn't want him thinking she was on some sort of forced diet either. How embarrassing would that be?<br/><br/>"Well, it was lovely to have milkshake with you Sandi." She said with a smile and a hug to her friend. "And lovely to meet you Mister Driver." She said, holding out a hand to him as they moved to leave.