Out of Pod Experience

(continued)

"Eugerelia...", mumbled Ruggenor.
"Yes my dear..."
"I said, I wanted to talk about something."
"I see. I interrupted you... what was that?"
"We couldn't celebrate our anniversary properly, and I've been thinking of something special for us. So I've located and rented our window"
"Our window...?", asked Eguerelia, puzzled.
"Well, not just the window. The appartment. At...
"Bijtlander Fork?!", shouted Eugerelia, understanding.
"Yes, Bijtlander Fork. Do you remember?"

Remember... Eugerelia remembered, of course. Bijtlander Fork was a small section of a mountain range in the southern hemisphere. There, the range splitted in half around a massive valley, dominated by two peaks linked by several smaller mountains to the main range. That was the "fork", and it had been named after the man who discovered that it was the best spot for skiing in the whole planet... at least, once the Khanid grew interested in skiing, a uncommon activity for people who craved warm climates.

The southern peak at Bijtlander Fork was home to a coveted ski resort, usually out of reach for people without good connections. Even as a young couple, Eugerelia Baiyarim (still without the "wf" denoting her marriage to someone with a higher name) and Ruggenor Fazmarai had the contacts and family to have a spot at the resort... and it had been there, in a modest appartment with a single but large and priceless window overlooking at the valley, where Ruggenor had proposed to Eugerelia.

"Our window... My, aren't you fool?", said Eugereli, smiling.
"Yes, I plead guilty"
"We're in peak season. How... no don't tell me"
"It had to be done, it's been done. The appartment is ours for a week... if you say yes."
"Of course I say yes!"
"Thank you, Eugerelia..."
"No, thank you, Ruggenor. I... I will make it worthy. This will be my gift for you, I swear. You will not regret taking me to Bijtlander Fork... if you can forgive me for my humour, my... sadness. fro being a bother and..."
"No, no... stop. Eugerelia, stop, or I'll have to kiss oyu."
"Then stop me..."

Eugerelia stood up, tooking out the visor. She walked to Ruggenor hoping that her bones weren't so visible, her limbs so weak, and she looked a bit more like the woman she was when she weighted 12 kilograms more. Then Ruggenor tilted his head and kissed her, and again (after so many years, and four children, and the horror of a mortal disease) his kiss hit her and left her mind blank, in a state of infinite grace. And as usual she tried to hold that state, but her mind started turning again and she opened her eyes and enjoyed her lips and his lips, and separated from him and regained her breath... But Ruggenor still was there. At the blissful blank space... Maybe that was a Khanid thing. Or a Fazmarai thing. Or... Ruggenor.

Eugerelia let Ruggenor hold her, hugging her fleshless bones against his sturdy, chubby frame. And she thought of Indahmawar... her precious flower, Mawi... would she experience the blank space? Or something like it? Or maybe the capsuleer had taken that from her? And how about other feelings? Was she human...? Or was she becoming like her cousin Ishtanchuk, who had been missing for six months and had spent exactly seventeen words to tell her parents that she was back and fine?

Eugerelia kissed Ruggenor back, but inside her mind, she wanted to know what could Eugerelia do so her death didn't hurt her precious Mawi, and yet fearing that maybe the capsuleer had taken that from her.

*stumbles into the bar*

Barkeep .. give me a drink! Because of reasons.

Ezwal smiles lightly while raising an eyebrow in amusement.
I do not fancy what that fine gentleman is having thank you, another beer would do just fine.

*watches Laudenum Hayes drinking water*

That's going to save me a laundry bill...

*climbs the stairs leading to the owner's table, then overlooks the bar and orders a cold dinner*

*falls off the bar stool drunk as a hoot owl and hits the floor*

"Let us pray."

In the distance i notice "The Greater Fool Bar" , as i head home from a heavy intense battle. Thus leaving me rather poor & my tail between my legs. I glance in the window of this rather intriguing establishment. The winter months have been harsh, my body so cold & covered in chilblains. I slowly place my hands into my pockets, searching for some coin.

I look upon my hands as i place them infront of me, held out as if i had some coin in them.... Then i glance back at the window with a sad feeling. My pride of throat i swallow, I long for a drink!!!!... but my unfortunate events turn me away from such a place.

Back onto the long road i go....

Allow me to invite you for a treat. anything you like, on me.

*calls from the floor*

Hey, barkeep, another round down here.

Laudenum looked up from her datapad at the motion outside the bar’s window. A smile crossed her face as she watched Mavrick and Ishtanchuk say their ‘goodbyes’. He was a little awkward as he bent to kiss the tiny Khanid woman on the cheek. She chuckled at the idea of Mav treating Ish like a porcelain doll when she could probably drop the big Brutor with a firm right. No, Mavrick Maximum wasn’t weak, but he was a gentleman in an age when gentlemen were rare.

She watched as they chatted outside the door. He looked happy and the smile he had was so much like his brother’s. Emotions welled up slowly of his brother, her fiancé, and the smile slide away leaving her face a neutral mask. She was happy for him; truly happy. But the look he gave Ishtanchuk as they chatted and laughed was like an icicle in her heart. Laud’s hands shook slightly and she reached down for her datapad and drink and retreated to her room.

She had just enough time to freshen up when Mav knocked on the door. Even though she suspected he’d check in with her, the sound jarred her from memories. “Come..”, she began, but her voice cracked so badly it barely carried across the room. She cleared her throat and restarted. “Come in.”

Mavrick opened the door with a smile spread wide across his face. “Hey boss, got anything for me?”

Laud cast him a sly look and she reached inside her desk, withdrew a bank chip and casually tossed it to him. He glanced at the sum and his smile grew even wider. There were a LOT of zeros on that chip and he had earned each and every one of them.

“Well?” Laud said, her grin already showing Mav that she knew.

“She is wonderful company, beautiful and charming.” He said. “I had a lot of fun.” Mav sat down in the chair facing Laudenum at her desk. “She chose that venue, now it’s my turn to come up with something.”

“AH, so there will be a second date.” Laud responded, more a statement than an actual question. “What do you have in mind?”

“Something unusual. Perhaps a picnic.” He said, his eyes giving a mischievious twinkle. “But, I need your help.”

Laudenum perked up. “What can I do?”

“I have a lot of work ahead of me and to pull this off and I am in need of your connections to import a few things for me.” He settled back in his chair and stretched his legs. He looked relaxed and casual but she knew he was all business.

Laud leaned forward with a smile, “What do you need and what kind of budget are we operating with?”

Mav knew that the glimmer in Laudenum’s eyes had very little to do with her interest with his date. She smelled a challenge along with a potentially expensive shopping trip. He looked ruefully at the newly acquired bank chip and tossed it back to her. “I would like a picnic lunch fit for a Khanid princess.” He said, and turned a little sheepish. “I don’t even know what they eat there.” He recognized the Cheshire grin on her face as she stowed the bank chip back in her desk. It was the same smile she used when she purchased capitol blueprints. He winced inwardly. This was going to cost a lot, but it was worth it.

He rose and walked to the door. Laud asked, “So where planetside are you doing this?”

“Not going planetside.” He responded. “It will be here on station.” His smile returned to his face and he winked at the redhead. “It’s a secret.”

*walks in shyly*

<.<
>.>

"can someone tell me where the restrooms are?"