This is a revision of an earlier piece, which I'm finally getting around to posting. Happy Holidays! Percival Rodriguez personal Journal Shipday 283 FINALLY!--after eight months of speculative trading in the blighted, low tec planets of the Rift- the Captain had steered us back to civilization. We had grounded on Fantini -hardly a garden spot. but at least the leading mode of personal transport didn't rely on WHEELS. Now Brava-Linn couldn't ditch out of her long promised date with me any longer. She had been begging off, insisting there was no way to have a Proper good time at lower than tec index delta, and she wanted to show me a GREAT time! Well now, here we were. The captain even gave me permission to take out her flitter for the occasion. Hey, being chief Purser has to have some privileges! I'd just finished detailing the loading job to the Cargo-master of the ground-gang when Brava showed up on the cargo deck wearing an outfit I hadn't seen on her since Mossbossah. She'd been working out! (little else TO do in BlindSpace between stars) Anyway, I introduced her to Taurus Grimaldi, the Cargo-master I'd hired to load up the ship, they exchanged pleasantries (I didn't know Brava could speak Bow. I knew she'd been posted there during the Incursion, dreadful high gravity rock, populated by geneered beefies, but I had no idea she'd learned the language. It comes easily to her, I guess.) and then we were off. She hung on for dear life as I showed off my flying skills a little, and made our dinner reservation with time to spare. I'd chosen The Angler Inn, one of the best seafood establishments in Port Vivre. We dined well, with an appetizer of pseudo-escargot, fine local wine, and entrees which had been jetting along the coastal stream just that morning. We were having a wonderful time-Brava was really opening up to me. We talked of her time in the service, she even had some amusing anecdotes of her time on Bow. As twilight faded into night, we finished the meal with a wonderful orange liqueur poured over hoodle, and prepared to get on our way to the next stop-a private tour I'd managed to arrange of the Capital Cathedral's spectacular tiered gardens. Alas, that's when happenstance ruined our idyllic evening. Brava suddenly came down with a wretched headache - sinus problems are always a threat the first few days in a new atmosphere. She pleaded with me to take her back to the ship, and I could hardly refuse the poor thing. We returned just as Grimaldi and his crew were finishing. Quite amazingly, Brava had the social aplomb to exchange a few words with him, even in her illness! She refused to see the ship's doc, and retired to her quarters with some aspirin. She said a good night's sleep would cure her. And, even though she had an awful night, she was spritely and chipper at breakfast. She let me know how much she enjoyed the evening, and suggested we hold off on another outing until we get back into Republican space. The remaining evenings we had on Fantini she would have to devote to a study program for her second class certificate. I could hardly complain- her studiousness and commitment to passenger services are one of her most endearing characteristics! So we'll wait to dance the night away, under the northern lights of Havelock. I can hardly wait! Rendered in Daz/Studio with pw Surface, with postwork in Photoshop. Special thanks to Stonemason for the amazing Arc setting, and Containers 2. Many thanks also to Xurge for the free Freak suit Valandar Spiritfoxy for their Agostino outfit Thanks for looking, and taking the time to read the silly story. Production Credits: didi_mc - Nanette (credit gallery) (upload gallery) (store) (homepage) Posermatic - Scooter-003 (credit gallery) (upload gallery) (store) (homepage) Aery_Soul - free AS-Zoel (credit gallery) (upload gallery) (store) (homepage)