Log:Dinner With Titan

2014/27/02 	 Ghost Titan

1

Orbital Habitat Areion System

From the railed edge of the shuttle port platform the vista is spectacular. Almost a mile below is the city and parkland landscape of the orbital, tall graceful buildings widely spaced among large expanses of parkland, with rivers and streams running like a silver tapestry through golden green grass and woods.

On the far side of a five mile wide span a transparent wall climbs into the sky and curves inwards passing overhead and descending to meet ground level again behind the platform. To left and right the ground slopes up, higher and higher, until the two directions finally meet dozens of miles above. The most prominent feature outside the habitat is the icy blue gas giant and multiple moons glowing in space under the light of a distant blue-white sun.

Prelude

The diner with Ten two days ago was most enjoyable. And a fine test run of the orbital simulation. A few minor tweaks and it's now as perfect as Ghost can make it.

Undermoon Embassy, Sandy Bottom Island

Ghost goes to the communications tower of the Embassy castle so she can get a signal on her PDA, and speed-dials Titan's number.

Titan answers, "Hello?"

Ghost says, "Titan, this is Jillian. Ghost. Could I invite you to dinner tonight?"

Titan smiles. "Sure, that sounds great. I didn't have anything going on tonight. Thank you."

Ghost says, "Thank you. I'll see you at.." There's a brief pause, "at seven PM Colonial Bay time, in the PG team quarters?"

Titan says, "Sounds good. I'll see you there."

Ghost smiles and closes the call. Next stop is the kitchens, and then the wine cellar. After that she returns to her room and reads through the mass of paperwork from Fae commanders relating to the concluded Goblin War.

Titan spends part of the day dealing with some negotiations for the next action movie he's going to be a part of. He picks up some dessert to bring as well.

Ghost is out in the team common area well before the appointed time. Having made a quick trip to the gate to advise the guards that Titan will be joining her. She is sure he is still on the PG team roster but wants to make sure there's no difficulty.

The guards don't hassle Titan on the way in, though they aren't exactly completely warm toward him either. Once he's inside, he takes off the lightweight jacket he was wearing. Apparently the cold temperatures don't really bother him much, if at all. He smiles as he walks into the common area, "Jillian...thank you for the invite."

Ghost is already starting to stand as Titan enters, her pointed ears twitching. "Titan." She smiles warmly, "It's so good to see you again after so long. And it's I should be thanking you for agreeing to dine with me."

Ghost comes over and reaches for Titan's hands.

Titan walks over to give Ghost a hug, if she'll let him. "I'm sorry I've been busy as of late. I do miss coming her more often."

Ghost willingly accepts the hug, hugging back. She chuckles softly, "The long absence is all on my side, Titan. I've been of some of the more distant Twilight Worlds rather a lot, and time rate differences out there can be horrendous."

Titan smiles and pulls back. "So...did it seem longer to you than it did to me? Or the other way around?"

Ghost smiles a touch sadly, "For me, Titan, it's been sixty years since I last saw you. I don't think it's been that long for you here on Earth."

Titan shakes his head and smiles, "Uh...no. Nowhere near that long. Nine months, maybe?"

Ghost nods. She seems about to say something. And rather obviously changes her mind. "Uh... Shall we go forth to our dining venue?" is what she finally says.

Titan smiles. "Sure. Were you planning on using that magical holo room again?"

Ghost smiles, "Yes. Mind the first step, Titan. There's a gravity shift."

Titan chuckles. "I'll keep that in mind." He follows after Ghost.

Ghost leads the way to the door of the magical room. She steps through the opaque wall of light filling the doorway to the other side.

Titan had been hoping to see the gravity effect on Ghost before stepping in, but instead has to just assume everything will be fine. He waits a moment to make sure Ghost has cleared the door, and then he steps inside.

The duo come out on a raised platform. A railing all around the platform protects from inadvertently falling off. Huge plates set in the floor of the platform are rising and lowering, bearing shuttle craft of many types. Ghost has stopped close to where the hidden doorway is and is letting Titan take in the sights.

Titan smiles, taking in the vista. "Very nice view. The railing seems a bit insufficient, given the fall from here, though. You space-faring types don't have an OSHA like organisation to worry about, do you?"

Ghost frowns questioningly, "OSHA?" she asks in puzzlement.

Titan chuckles. "Ah...right. It's an organisation in the US. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They deal with with safety and health legislation and the like."

Ghost says, "Oh. What a wonderful idea. No, I'm afraid we had nothing like that. Each Corp was a law unto itself. In many ways the culture of the Nebula is much harsher than seems to be common on Earth. Certainly Colonial Bay at any rate."

Titan grins, "A lot of people complain about OSHA requirements, but in general they're a good organisation to have." He lifts the bag that he's brought with him. "Oh, I brought a dessert. Tiramisu. I wasn't sure if you had tried it before."

Ghost smiles, "I haven't. I'll be delighted to try it. Thank you, Titan." She pauses, "Can I call you Johnathan?" she asks.

Titan grins and then laughs heartily, "Of course. Please do. You can even call me 'John', if you prefer...though it's been some time since I was called that."

Ghost smiles, Thank you, Johnathan. And please call me Jillian."

Ghost adds with a chuckle, "But not Jill."

Titan smiles. "Sounds good. So...what's on the menu for tonight?"

Ghost says, "We'll be dining at Max's Heights. It's a well respected restaurant owned by an old friend of mine. He was in my shadow merc team for a while. Earned enough to buy a restaurant and retired from merc'ing."

A floating open topped car raises to hover at the side of the platform. A section of the railing drops down to allow access without having to step over it.

Ghost points to the car, "Shall we?"

Titan chuckles upon seeing the car, but doesn't say anything. He just climbs into the car and takes a seat.

The car sets off, taking a meandering course across the orbital habitat. It's amid a stream of other traffic, from sleek fast personal flyers to ponderous cargo carriers. "All this traffic is being monitored and if need be remotely operated by a central system." Jillian says. "No one is insane enough to allow uncontrolled flyers in a habitat. There are strict penalties for anyone who tries."

Titan nods. "I'm not really concerned for myself, but it seems like a open topped car that flies isn't the best design." He smiles slightly.

The destination is quickly obvious. A building reaching up to almost touch the crystal clear dome covering the habitat. The car seems to be making for a balcony at the top of the building.

"The habitat was build by an Areion Corporation, Johnathan. They are winged and can fly. Despite a few nods towards the sensitivities of other ground based species, a lot of the habitat makes the assumption that individuals can fly." Jillian explains.

Titan nods, "Ah...that makes sense, then." He looks up at the building, "So...that's where the restaurant is?"

Ghost smiles, "Yes. Hence the name Max's Heights."

The car comes to a stop hovering beside the balcony rail, which promptly drops to allow access to the floor of the balcony.

Titan waits for Jillian to exit the car before he gets out as well.

Ghost steps out and is half turned to see how Johnathan is managing when... the door leading into the building is thrown open and a eight foot high wookie type creature with large fangs and long silky blue-white fur rushes out. "Huh! Little Ghostie!" it roars and grabs Jillian up in a hug.

Titan smiles slightly and continues clambering out of the vehicle.

"Oof!" Jillian gasps, pummelling the creature's flank with her feet. "Let go before you break any more of my ribs, you animated fur-rug."

Titan waits while Ghost is greeted, figuring that Jillian will introduce him to her other friend.

Max rumbles rather than laughs, and lowers Jillian to the floor. He then turns to Johnathan, "You eat with little Ghostie? Tonight you eat free." he says.

Ghost is grinning, "Max this is Titan. Titan, this is my good friend Max."

Titan offers a hand to Max, "Nice to meet you."

Ghost mentions in an aside, "I changed a few things. Obviously Max wouldn't normally be speaking English and the food is from the Embassy kitchens. Not only don't we have the ingredients for the food Max cooks but I don't know the recipes to program the room to replicate them."

Titan grins, "I would have never known, you know."

Max shakes Titan's hand, burying Titan's hand in his huge fingers while being careful not to squeeze too hard.

Ghost looks at Johnathan, "Are you making fun of me?" she asks.

Ghost then smiles, "I guess it was pretty obvious."

Titan chuckles. "No, I was being honest. I don't know the Embassy's cooking that well. I might have not known if you didn't tell me.

Ghost laughs, "I could have kept my little secret then. Not that I feel the need to keep secrets from you, Johnathan. The chefs in the Embassy are first rate. As good as the chefs in the palace on Undermoon. It's one of the things I'm enjoying now I'm back. I guess Fae army rations are excellent compared to the usual food militaries serve up but a steady diet of it and living in camps can grow old after a decade or two."

Max goes to hold the door into the building open, "I have the high table for you. Moonrise is in twenty minutes. There's a mana storm on Minros raging right now." Titan raises a brow, "Mana storm? What is that, exactly?"

Ghost hesitates a moment to gather her thoughts, "Mana is magical energy. It's almost everywhere, but the strength varies considerably. In the Nebula with its high intensity mana level I was ranked as a capable mage. Not the most powerful but competent. On Earth there's a comparative lack of mana and I can only cast a few simple spells and cantrips. That's the mana most mages use. There's a second type of mana, wild mana. It's chaotic and dangerous, and is mostly contained in certain nodes. Sometimes these nodes 'erupt' for lack of a better word, and throw out vastly increased levels of wild mana. That's what we call a mana storm."

Ghost adds soberly, "And that's when mages die by the score."

Titan tilts his head, "Too much energy, and it flows through them? Like say...a power surge?

Ghost says, "In a way. The more powerful the ambient mana the more powerful an enchantment can be made. Mana storms draw mages to them like bugs are drawn to a light, in the hope of casting powerful enchantments. And if they can't control the enchantment process they burn up." She taps the hilt of her sword, "I enchanted Stormcast in the heart of the Wildfire Node during the strongest Mana storm to hit Sercia in over a century. As a result she's rated as one of the Seven Great Blades of the Nebula."

Titan nods. "Still, it's a sobering thought if people are drawn there for the sake of power and can't handle it."

Max leads Johnathan and Jillian to a table on the top most interior balcony level, just a few feet below the apex of the habitat dome.

Titan holds Jillian's chair for her, letting her sit down before he does.

Ghost nods. "Yes. I was foolhardy and lucky. But mages will try. I did." She gives Johnathan a warm smile and sits in the chair he is holding for her.

As Max goes to collect a bottle from the rack Ghost leans forward a little, "Johnathan, I have a small confession to make. I dined here with Ten a couple of nights ago. I wanted a practice run to work any bugs out so this evening would be perfect."

Titan moves around and takes a seat at the table. He then grins, "I appreciate that. But...you didn't really need to do that." He then blinks a couple of times as something dawns on him. "I've been a bit blind, haven't I?"

Ghost freezes, and then tentatively asks, "Blind..?"

Titan nods, taking a moment to consider his words. "One doesn't try to make sure something is 'perfect' for someone who is just a friend. At least that's been my past experience." He smiles warmly, "It probably didn't help much that I was moping about Lorelei the last time I saw you."

Max is approaching the table with the wine. Ghost waves a hand and he stops in mid step, motionless as a statue. "Johnathan, yes, I would very much like it if you and I were more than just friends. Although there's nothing 'just' about friendship. If that can't be however, I hope we can remain friends."

Titan smiles again, looking at Ghost curiously for a long moment. "Thank you. I just wish I had known earlier. Then again, if I had realized earlier, I'm not sure how I would have reacted." He pauses again, and finally says, "I'm happy to see where our relationship heads. I'm willing to give it a shot. And no matter how things turn out, we'll remain friends."

Ghost sits back in relief, "Thank you, Johnathan." She says and then seems rather at a loss for words. Instead she reaches across the table for your right hand.

Titan reaches out to take Ghost's hand. "Are you okay?"

Ghost says, "I'm very happy, Johnathan. It's just.. well, I didn't really expect you to... I haven't prepared any strategies for... ” Jillian sighs, “I just realised I only had plans up to this point. Oh, this is terrible. I'm babbling."

Titan grins, "You didn't expect me to what? Say that I was interested?" He chuckles, "For someone so full of confidence most times, you're cute when you get flustered."

Ghost just laughs, almost hysterically at the start and then calming. "Oh.. Enjoy it while it lasts then. I'm going to try not to let it happen too often."

Ghost looks up, "Really? Cute?"

Titan smiles warmly, "Really. It's endearing."

Ghost smiles. Clicking her fingers she sets Max back into motion. Coming to the table Max pours a sample of the wine into Johnathan's glass for him to taste.

Ghost says, "I don't think I've ever been called cute before, Johnathan. It's kind of nice, when it's the right person saying it."

Titan takes the glass and swirls it about before sniffing the bouquet. He then swirls it again to look at the legs of the liquid before taking a sip. "Mmm...very nice." He sets the glass down and smiles to Ghost, "I'll be honest. I'm somewhat surprised you were interested in me."

Ghost says, "You know I'm generally a very logical person, Johnathan? Right. Well in matters of the heart I'm as much at a loss to explain my feelings as anyone else. I've always admired you immensely. You're intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate, and sensible. Characteristics that most of the people I have met, on Earth, on Undermoon, or back in the Nebula, lack. For that I would have liked you, would have been happy to call you a friend. But why my feelings run deeper, much deeper, I just cannot explain. It was the same with Elaron."

Max pours a refill into Johnathan's glass and then fills Jillain's.

Titan grins, "You might not have seen me when I'm angry then. I tend to not be very sensible when that happens." He chuckles quietly and takes a sip of his drink, "Who is Elaron? I don't think you mentioned the name previously. Unless I'm just being forgetful, which is possible, admittedly."

Ghost sips at her wine before answering. "Elaron was my first, and up to now, my only lover. He was a poet, of all things. It was just after I'd graduated Naval Command School. I was celebrating and he was in the drinking hall reciting one of his poems. We just clicked. I was on shipboard most of the time, and Elaron was touring the Nebula giving recitals. Every once in a while our free time would coincide and we'd meet up.

Ghost says, "We were both immortal. We thought we had plenty of time."

Titan nods. "So what happened? Nothing good, I'm assuming."

Ghost says, "The ship he was on was hit by pirates. There were no survivors." Jillian's face hardens as she continues, "I tracked that pirate ship across the Nebula. Caught up with it in orbit above Hothga and put a broadside in her hull. She burned all the way down."

Ghost sighs, "That didn't bring Elaron back though."

Titan nods soberly, "I'm somewhat surprised the pirates didn't take prisoners, to be honest."

Ghost says, "There aren't usually any survivors to take prisoner in a space encounter, Johnathan. Grav shock, decompression, radiation flux. A space ship is a fragile egg in a environment that is intensely hostile to human life."

Titan nods. "I guess I just tend to think of them like the pirates here several centuries ago. Prisoners meant a ransom might be paid. Or they were sold into slavery."

Ghost says, "We didn't allow slavery. Johnathan, the Nebula was settled by Fae and humans who had been enslaved. We rebelled aboard the ship transporting us and fled from the Empire, hiding inside Journey's End Nebula. There were many regressive things about the Nebula culture but slavery was not one of them. It would not have been tolerated for an instant."

Titan shrugs, "I'm still surprised. But then again, I guess my view of space is tainted a bit by media. I work in the movies, after all."

Ghost continues after a pause, "Maybe if a ship like the Hyperion was taken, survivors might have been held for ransom. But it would be a brave pirate to take on a ship like that. Usually they went after cargo scrows, where the only passengers would be worthless for ransom. Elaron liked to travel on those ships. He claimed it brought him closer to real people than travelling on a luxury cruiser."

Titan nods again, "Ah...I see." He's silent for a moment, and then he says, "I'm sorry to have brought it up."

Ghost says, "It happened a long time ago now, Johnathan. I miss him and still think of him. I wish he was still alive, still composing that poetry of his and travelling the Nebula. Even if he was though, I would still have lost him after I mis-jumped to Earth. The Nebula is in my past. My present and future lay on Earth and Undermoon."

Titan smiles again, "There's something to be said for taking that attitude. Some people have a hard time letting go of the past."

Ghost taps the side of her head, "Headware. I never forget the past. I POV record everything. But I understand I think. Letting go of the past is not the same as forgetting the past. There's a Sercian saying about it. 'The past should be your guide, not your master'."

Titan grins, "There's a saying here on Earth which is similar. 'Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.'"

Titan says, "But it's not really the same sentiment, I guess."

Ghost says, "No, it isn't the same sentiment. But it's also very correct."

Max returns and serves the starter, a clear cold fish soup.

Titan tries the dish, "Interesting flavor. I'm not used to soup being served cold.

Max returns with warm rolls.

"Johnathan. you must try the rolls. The chef is a Master of the Baker's art." Jillian says.

Titan tries a roll and smiles. "Very nice." He pauses a moment, "I remember old tales which warned about eating food offered by the Fae. Something about it meaning you're trapped in their world from then on."

Ghost says, "Really. I can't believe they're true. Lots of people, Fae and humans, have eaten food in the Embassy, and quite a few on Undermoon too. I'm sure I would have heard something if they were trapped on the Twilight Worlds. Where did you hear these tales, Johnathan?"

Titan shrugs and smiles, "Old wives' tales, handed down over centuries. The Fae were considered mysterious and dangerous. Seductive and destructive. There's more than one story about children being kidnapped and replaced with something called a 'Changeling', or...getting caught up in a party and dancing to complete exhaustion, unable to stop."

Ghost looks fascinated by the tale you are weaving, "That's curious, Johnathan. According to Fae records there was no contact at all between the Fae and Earth for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Princess Stephanie's mother. It's certainly within the capability of the Fae to do all you have mentioned, although what their motivation to do so would baffle me. I wonder if a world-walker found a way to Earth and kept it a secret. I'm in service to the Princess, but that doesn't blind me to the reality of some aspects of Fae culture. You know about that as well as I do."

Ghost chuckles softly, "They can be the most exquisitely polite murderous back-stabbing draken in existence."

Titan smiles, "Perhaps the stories are actually about some other culture that's only indirectly related to Undermoon? I have no idea."

Ghost says, "That's possible, Johnathan. When the Fae abandoned their original realm during the Dragon Wars there are tales from that time of groups splitting away and losing contact. The assumption is usually that those smaller groups died out, or ran into something they couldn't handle. Assuming I'm originally from this dimension, or alternatively there's a this dimension version of the Nebula out there somewhere, the enslaved Fae who became the settlers of Sercia could be one such group. So it's possible other such long lost groups are somewhere in the dimensions."

Titan nods. "There was a distinction between 'Seelie' and 'Unseelie', which seemed to connect to the seasons. Summer and Winter, respectively. Does that ring a bell at all?"

"Seelie and Unseelie? No, no bells I'm afraid." Jillian looks up at you with a shy smile, "Johnathan, why are we discussing ancient Fae history? Let's discuss something of more immediate concern. Would you like to stay the night?"

Titan blinks and chuckles. "A bit of a jump from being flustered about my reactions to asking if I'll stay the night." He looks a bit amused and sips his wine, considering it. "Sure, I've love to."

Ghost lifts her glass and if you allow, clinks it lightly against your glass. "In Nebula human culture, and I grew up on a human settled world, the matter of a relationship is far more important than just sleeping together. That casualness never felt right to me, which is why Elaron was my first and only until now, but it means it has much less emotional impact than finding out my feelings were returned, Johnathan."

Titan does clink glasses with you. "I may never understand your culture, admittedly. But I have a long time to try to figure it out."

Ghost nods, "We have a long time to try and figure out each other's cultures."