(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/0a/Rudy_reyes.jpeg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Santiago, first mate of <em>Man's Ruin</em></span></span><br/>2519, present day<br/>In<em>Man's Ruin</em>, Bay 51, Eavesdown Docks, Persephone<br/><br/><em>"You know...when you cook, I don't go and make a big deal..."</em><br/><br/><strong>"When I cook, you don't go crashing us into a planet and turning us into a bunch of little pieces, neither, Samson."</strong><br/><br/>I ain't much of a kisser, but Thalia apparently was.  I done my best, but she gave more than she got.  I could feel the fear in her body initially, maybe at me, maybe because we was going to test the theory of gravity firsthand, but it dissipated.  She was relaxed instead of tense in my arms, which made it easier to hang onto her little body.  I like the way she tasted and smell and felt.<br/><br/>The ship's jostling was enough to break our lip lock but I still managed to keep my hold on her.  We slid to a stop and she looked at me, checking my condition.  I was fine, so she punched my arm.<br/><br/><em>"You don't just kiss a girl like that!  Why did you?"</em><br/><br/><strong>"I come close to dying a few times, but none was better than this, doc.  I don't know, I just had the overwhelming desire to take you in a manly fashion-"</strong><br/><br/>She laid a quick one on me and climbed off my lap.<br/><br/><em>"That was very bold."</em><br/><br/><strong>"Was it?  Aw, that was nothing.  I can be bolder than that.  Much, much bolder."</strong><br/><br/>I gave her a wink and checked out her bottom as she stepped out the cockpit.<br/><br/>