Chapter Five - Tuesday: After the meeting

[BackworldTraveller]

Barmaid (Jodie)
An Apo with Strawberry. And I'm glad you feel at home.

She moves on to the next customer who is waving a Cr 10 Note at her for attention

[ateno]

Barmaid (Jodie)
An Apo with Strawberry. And I'm glad you feel at home.

She moves on to the next customer who is waving a Cr 10 Note at her for attention

"Wow that was like she was talking to a boot on his first leave and being hit on."

Pranit smiles

"But shes working to make money so I don't blame her. You never know who the big tippers are.

Pranit looks around for anyone out of place.

[BackworldTraveller]

The club is obviously enjoying a fairly normal clientele; the various groups are all similarly dressed and similarly disinterested in each other as groups and occasionally interested as individuals. A few are on the floor, dancing fairly the fairly stylised pieces that are currently popular in the management classes. Either the more individual types have self-selected to go elsewhere or have been excluded at the door.

You end up standing by a tall shelf/table - two executive types are standing the other side of the pillar chatting about outrageous helium prices and some office scandal involving a superannuated clerk and a new junior.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani would like to scout the place, see who is doing what, make contacts, look for opportunities. That guy from the Guild for example, ought to reach out there.

But, this is about getting to know Pranit, who so far seems a good sort, if a bit too military, so she represses the urge to mingle ( easy enough, the place is corporate-square ) and clinks glasses with him: To the Queen's new crew, happier than the last.

So, Pranit, tell me. What brings you to the Queen? I am a Guild Pilot because of the place I bought on the Queen. That investment is the biggest asset I have, and I have a sentimental attachment too. The first ship I was Pilot of, it will always be special to me.

[ateno]

So, Pranit, tell me. What brings you to the Queen? I am a Guild Pilot because of the place I bought on the Queen. That investment is the biggest asset I have, and I have a sentimental attachment too. The first ship I was Pilot of, it will always be special to me.

"It was a total coincidence, I was asked out of nowhere by Noor to attend the meeting for her, as she is a old friend and I know the Captain from the Navy, we worked together for a few months on a exercise. And I just got out of the Navy and was turned down for a great job that day."

Takes a drink.

"Captian is worrying a bit cause I outranked him in the navy and I'll be working for him. But like I will tell you what I told him. Besides being a terrific boarding office I have always been a support guy and the navy turned be down for pilot/Captain school. So I got out."

Takes another drink.

"Anyway i'm here and I am looking forward to it."

Pranit

[The Bindoner]

Ah! You want to be a Pilot? A good ambition, for a Belter. I will be happy to teach you.

Nālani drinks: It sounds heartless, I know, but I am glad to hear you left the Navy with a grievance. It looked very much like the Navy were putting their own people in command of my ship. From impound to theft. That is why I was, ah, defensive at the meeting. She lapses into dialect: Not goin' let Navy push me roun' on me own ship, nah? Want my chair, fight me for it.

Another sip, and back in normal/formal: Not that I can fight, really. Not hitting. But I know people who like to.

Speaking of which, on the way here I got a message from a friend warning me there are dangerous people asking questions about the Queen. We ought to think about a proper security plan.

Ah! but that is shop-talk. Tonight is not the time for that. Now, Belter, shall we dance or drink?

Edit:

Later you must tell me about this new Captain, I am eager to learn all I can about her.

[ateno]

Ah! You want to be a Pilot? A good ambition, for a Belter. I will be happy to teach you.

"To be honest, it was the next step in the ladder for promotion, I have my license for small craft, but right now I'm trying to get my feet under me before deciding whats next."

Speaking of which, on the way here I got a message from a friend warning me there are dangerous people asking questions about the Queen. We ought to think about a proper security plan.

Ah! but that is shop-talk. Tonight is not the time for that. Now, Belter, shall we dance or drink?

Later you must tell me about this new Captain, I am eager to learn all I can about her.

"Security is one of the million things I need to worry about. But I would be interested in hearing more about your friends. I do have a story about indrani, but......"

Drains glass of last bit.

"I think we should dance a bit."

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit and Nalani
Nalani dances, but is distracted by the formality of the place and the uninspired commercial tunes and beats. Pranit is more fluid and enjoys the movement, forward, back and around; and again! Lost in the moment he manages to briefly lose his cares and worries.

Hi - I'm Imelda, and this is Han. Care for making a 4 for a Hachi?

And a surprisingly energetic version of the dance follows: Pranit having an unexpected flare for the dynamic lifts.

[BackworldTraveller]

The evening breaks up with Pranit and Nalani eventually tiring - and the expectation of the next day's activities being frenetic impinging on the tired brains. Journeys home are seemingly uneventful...
...Nalani manages to get to her room with nothing more dramatic than yet another escape attempt by her Feline companion; Pranit gets to the ship and is, again, dropped off with nothing to note.

[ateno]

Pranit sets his alarm with enough time to shower and eat before the day and orders a 'DayWake' pill to be delivered at 0800 at the ship.

Rubbing his arms and shoulders he gets as much sleep as he can.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani was silenced by the Hachi, thinking "This is what I get for wearing a furisode-sleeved outfit" as she goes through the motions, adequate but uninspired. She is surprised by Pranit's inspired performance though, and afterwards compliments him on it: Nice moves, Belter! That Zero-G really paid off for you, yah?

You say you got small-craft ticket? That's how I start, good basis, I'll soon get you up in the co-pilot seat, no worry, yah?

A relatively early night is a good thing, won't need Stims in the morning, she thinks as she travels home.

Back in her room she plays with Hoshiko for a while, puts her clothes in the automatic laundry unit, takes a quick shower, sets her comm alarm to vibrate ( in case Hoshiko oversleeps ), turns on her Sphere of Solitude and is soon deeply asleep in its soothing white noise.