perma-open tfln.

[pitseleh]

check it.

Comments

[innerharbor]

So that's what all those degrees get you.

Hey, Teach. There whores on Mars?

[thraxios]

So far as I know, there are whores everywhere, Amos.

[innerharbor]

That's what I always figured, but dusters can be a little freaky. No offense, teach.

I mean, are the places there legal? Regulated?

[thraxios]

None taken.

The answer to your question is...complicated. There are legal brothels, many of which, I've heard, are well-run. But there are other means of finding partners, some of which I don't think you'd approve of.

[innerharbor]

Well, now I gotta ask what you think I'd approve of.

[thraxios]

Pardon. From what you've said, oversight and consideration for workers seem high on the list.

[innerharbor]

Don't gotta pardon nothing. I just never figured you were listening.

[thraxios]

Why wouldn't I listen?

[innerharbor]

You know. Guys like you don't really listen to Earther trash. Fancy Martian.

Appreciate it.

[thraxios]

I'm hardly fancy.

[innerharbor]

You know words for things I never even heard of.

What was that one the other day?

[thraxios]

Serendipity. Finding something pleasant when you didn't expect to.

[innerharbor]

Yeah. Don't run into that often.

Make a good name for a ship, though.

[thraxios]

It does. Next ship, perhaps.

[innerharbor]

Not for any ship I'm gonna be on. Bet there are hundreds of Serendipitys on Luna.

What do you wanna do when we hit Rhea? You're still a kidnap risk, right?

[thraxios]

I don't believe the MCRN would describe it as kidnapping. But I may need to stay aboard the Rocinante.

[innerharbor]

That's bullshit. I'll watch your ass. People get cabin fever if they stay on the same ship too long.

[thraxios]

[There is a pause, during which Gideon considers the benefits of accepting or refusing the request. But finally:]

That would be very kind of you. Thank you.

I've never been to Rhea before. Where should we go?

[innerharbor]

There's a good brothel on level 12. The bar's nice and they treat their people right. The market's good, too, but I dunno if they'll have the books you like, but the food's good. And there's glass performances.

[thraxios]

I'm sure I can find something to read there, especially now that I've read everything we have aboard.

What are glass performances?

[innerharbor]

It's belter music. You've never heard anything like it. They move these little glass balls in low G and they spin... I dunno how to describe it.

[thraxios]

Then we'll have to see the marketplace. It sounds like it would suit my interests more than the brothel.

[innerharbor]

Sure, I'll take you. Should consider the brothel, though. You could really stand to blow off some steam.

[thraxios]

Do you think so?

[innerharbor]

You're kinda high strung.