<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/0a/Rudy_reyes.jpeg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Santiago,</span><em>First Mate and "Public Relations"</em><br/>2519, present day<br/><em>Man's Ruin</em>, Eavesdown Docks, Persephone<br/>Tagging - Thalia Linnea, Astrid Zachrison<br/>Location -<em>Man's Ruin</em><br/><hr/><br/>"Was hoping you was going to wear that."<br/><br/>I walked up to Thalia, looked her up and down, and took a hand of hers so I could lift it up above her head and twirl it around to make her spin in place.<br/><br/>Sure did enjoy making them purple slits open up.<br/><br/>After she stood straight and still, I crossed my legs at the ankle and executed a spin of my own.<br/><br/>"Sure hope there's some dancing at this party.  Then again, it sure would be nice to play some poker with you again."<br/><br/>Been a long time since we played poker.  Felt like a lifetime ago, back before we was on<em>Man's Ruin</em>.  I wasn't much of a card player, but I knew some tricks of the more underhanded variety.  When the drinks was flowing and the opponents was less observant, I could get a better card to end up in my hand if I was careful.  Was even better at passing off a better card to a partner in crime, like Thalia.<br/><br/>Stakes was low, but entertainment was high.  Working a table together, me and Thalia managed to scrounge up some money for drinks or get out of chores.<br/><br/>The new mechanic/engineer came to join us.<br/><br/><em>"Y'all off to that fancy party?"</em><br/><br/>Working on<em>Man's Ruin</em>all day with her, mostly moving around heavy stuff and handing her tools and such, I got to know Astrid some.<br/><br/>For one, she sure could work a ship.  For another, she somehow always made do with whatever was on hand, no matter how seemingly mundane.<br/><br/>And she wasn't just good with her hands, but with all of her body.  Caught myself getting an eyeful of her as she managed to manuever her own self with power and grace.  And she was able to fit her flexible figure into all sorts of tight spaces.<br/><br/>All that and she was a looker, too.  Couldn't help imagining what it would be like.<br/><br/>"It's a party, Astrid, but we're there on business.  'Got to keep work and play separate,' someone once said to me."  I winked at Thalia.  "Samson's got a lead on getting us a job, and the poker party is the meeting place.  Course, if our ship ain't space-worthy, won't mean nothing."<br/><br/>I lay a big meaty hand on Astrid's shoulder.<br/><br/>"But I have the utmost faith in you and your abilities, Astrid."<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>