Log Date: 1/1/97
Log Cast:
	Tance, Kesya, Ariel, Laurana, Jaenne
Log Intro:
	On her ongoing quest to improve the self-esteem of Tance Vokrim,
Kesya has bought him new clothes up on Shankill, and has proceeded to
let him follow her around as she attends to business involving new
recruits and important personages who need to interact with the Heptite
Guild representatives. Hoping to improve Tance's reputation as well as
his confidence, she keeps introducing him as 'Senior Crystal Singer
Tance Vokrim, one of the Guild's more distinguished members' -- making
the fidgety Tance keep looking at her funny, not quite believing what he's
hearing. Embarrassed and still marvelling inwardly at the idea of having
fresh, clean clothes, Tance keeps quiet for the most part, giving
brusque hellos to those he and Kesya meet, wondering to himself whether
he has any idea who any of these people are. The other Trainer personnel
on the moonbase vaguely recognize him, but can't place him.
	At last, Kesya coaxes Tance back to the Guild lounge for some
dinner....

----------
Tance(#3209POQce)
This is a man of of perhaps about 5'10" in height, with a skinny, gaunt build 
  that speaks of a long span of time gone without proper sustenance for his 
  frame. He is sallow of complexion, with the look of having once been deeply 
  tanned, and his features now have about them a look of old, faded leather. 
  His eyes, a dark and sullen shade of brown, are framed by lines at their 
  corners that suggest that far too often, their owner glares at anything in 
  his sight.
His hair, a peppered mix of dark brown, lighter sunstreaks, and myriad strands 
  of grey, has been trimmed to a short but oddly flattering style, with even a 
  thick lock in the front to dangle above one eye and give him a more youthful 
  look. His face is clean-shaven. Black pants fall loosely down Tance's toned 
  legs, tucked into sturdy boots of the same color. Dressed casually, this 
  outfit still compliments the Singer's slim frame and gives him a rakish air. 
  A white shirt hangs from his shoulders, loose sleeves rolled to just below 
  his elbows. The shirt billows a bit where it's tucked in, but he wears a 
  stylish black vest atop this as well, the hem of which dips just below his 
  belt-encircled waistline. 
 If you happen to be near Tance, the hair on your arm stands on end. His arm 
  is in a simple cast and sling.

You step into the common lounge.
Heptite Guild Common Lounge - Shankill
This is a wonderful, airy room, bright with gentle but brilliant shades of 
  green and blue. Screens hang on the wall to provide the illusion of 
  landscapes, and hanging and potted plants thrive around the room, softening 
  the boxy corners. A number of table stand near the catering unit, and more 
  inviting pillowed loungers and chairs have been arranged in several 
  conversation pits. The loud chatter of the afternoon has mellowed slightly, 
  mostly people are just sitting in groups talking and laughing quietly, or 
  eating a nice dinner.
Contents:
  Tance, standing between the conversation pit and the tables. 
  Kesya, standing between the conversation pit and the tables. 
  Ariel, seated at table two. 
  Laurana, seated at table two.
  Catering Unit
Obvious Commands ("." for list):
  .wait  .pit  .tables  .catering unit
Obvious Exits:
  Guild Members Quarters  Training Rooms  Guest Rooms

Ariel glances up nervously from her meal as strangers enter the room.

Kesya wanders in quietly, trailed by a well-dressed Singer. She makes her way 
  to the catering unit, and winks to him. "So... after that busy day, what 
  would you like to eat?"

Ariel looks at you for a moment.

Laurana's eyes remain on her plate, until she hears a voice, "Evening." she 
  says evenly, throwing Ariel a reassuring smile. She looks at the new people 
  in the room.
Laurana looks at you for a moment.

The black-and-white-clad man trailing after the green-skinned woman in brown 
  shifts from foot to foot, looking rather bemused, and he mutters to his 
  companion, "Um... steak?" The sight of the two already in the lounge makes 
  him shift again, just slightly, with a flicker of nervousness across his 
  dark eyes.

Kesya spins the menufax around to display the meat selections.
Kesya peruses the selection of meat dishes, and purchases a steak dinner.
Kesya peruses the selection of meat dishes, and orders the Pasta with Duck in 
  Zinfandel sauce.

Ariel lowers her eyes, suddenly absorbed with the food in front of her -- 
  although she barely seems to be eating it.

Kesya pulls out the cheesecake, beverage and steak for Tance,and her own pasta 
  dish for herself. She hands Tance his tray, and looks over her shoulder at 
  the recruits. "Oh, hi there. Mind if we join you?" She wanders over, placing 
  her tray on a table.

Ariel glances up quickly at Laurana, then at the green-skinned woman. She 
  shakes her head. "Please."

Laurana smiles cheerfully, "Not really." she looks at Ariel curiously, 'Do you 
  mind?"

Handed food, Tance can be seen to brighten a bit, though it's with somewhat 
  more hesitance that he edges after his companion. "Thanks," he mutters, 
  though whether to the woman with him or the two seated recruits isn't 
  exactly clear.

Kesya takes a seat, pouring out wine for herself and the other Singer. "You 
  two are Ariel and Laurana, right?" Her smile seems pleasant enough. "I'm 
  Kesya As'shoriah, Singer and Head of Training for the guild. I was told you 
  two were in here, thought I'd see how you're settling in on Shankill."

Ariel
Tall, though not overly so, she is a little on the thin side, with a fair 
  complexion. Age-wise, she appears to be late into her third decade. Her eyes 
  are pale blue, and watch the room with a measured expression from above high 
  cheekbones. Her hair is a deep shade of red and just brushes her neck and 
  shoulders; it is currently tied back from her face in a short braid. She is 
  wearing a plain, blue jumpsuit that looks like it was meant for someone both 
  taller and heavier than she. She seems a little on the nervous side. Jumpy.

Laurana
        The first thing noticeable about Laurana is her mass of auburn hair 
  which fall to just below her shoulders, like burnished copper in the sun. 
  The next most noticeable thing are her wide-grey eyes, soft and yet, you 
  feel that they could steel into ice, if she wishes. Laurana's face is framed 
  by soft auburn tinted curls, gold glints with reddish highlights. Her pale 
  complexion, almost ivory in pallor, seems to be mismatched with her hair 
  color, and as a result, makes her look like she's always unhealthy.
        Her thin frame, is attired in a loose green tunic and a pair of cotton 
  pants. Her pants hang loosely down her legs and billow out at the mere 
  piffle of breeze. Over this, she has on a semi-heavy trenchcoat of a beige 
  colour. Her accent reveals her as a transient from Terra, by way of London 
  or somewhere in that vicinity.

Ariel ohs softly, and immediately looks more at ease. She even smiles. "Ariel. 
  Pleased to meet you."

Laurana nods to the singers, including the mumbling man in her greeting, 
  "Laurana, and I'm settling fine..I think."

You can detect some crystal resonance in your bones.
Non-singers around you see: You feel a rather strong needling on your skin 
  when you pass close to Tance.

Kesya nods pleasantly, spearing some pasta with her fork as she gestures to 
  the older singer. "This is Tance Vokrim by the way, Senior Singer and one of 
  the more distinguished members of the guild." She pauses long enough to 
  begin her meal, and adds, "There are a lot of recruits up here now. Met them 
  all yet?"

A brief, confused look flickers in Ariel's eyes and she rubs her arms lightly. 
  She nods politely to the other singer, and shakes her head at Kesya. "I've 
  only met two others so far."

Laurana frowns, "I've met a few..though not nearly as all that are listed on 
  the recruit list." her frown deepens a touch, "And I heard of an applicant 
  who..left?"

Tance coughs a bit, as he gingerly sits his tray down and eases into the chair 
  beside it. "'Lo," he puts in, gruffly. A quick, nervous glance at Kesya, as 
  well as a trace of a blush across his weathered face, suggests that 
  something she's doing is unsettling him.
Tance walks over to the tables.
Tance sits down at table two.

Kesya nods as she skirts around that question, her gaze on her dinner. "Yes, 
  we did have one who decided to go back to his home planet after all. It's 
  not uncommon for people to change their minds... what with the code four on 
  the planet and all." She brings Tance into the conversation, "That was just 
  before we went out to the black claim, remember?"
Kesya walks over to the tables.
Kesya sits down at table two.

Now starting to fiddle one-handedly with cutting up the steak before him, 
  Tance looks up, blinks once, and then shakes his head awkwardly.

Ariel frowns slightly at the mention of people changing their minds, but says 
  nothing; rather, she turns back to her food again, silent.

Laurana ahhs softly and takes the last spoonful of her cereal. She grins 
  wryly, "Too bad Shane isn't here..he has, a few questions to ask." she 
  smoothes her arm down, "Will it be long?..before we can receive Full 
  Disclosure?"

Kesya shrugs offhandedly at the other Singer. "I mentioned it in passing, I 
  think. Anyway, it's not important." Her lips curve in an amused smile at 
  Laurana's comment, and she answers wryly. "Oh, we're well used to questions 
  by now. The current class is about.. halfway done their training, so it'll 
  probably be another two months or so. How long have you been on Shankill so 
  far?"

Laurana chuckles, "I've been on Shankill for approximately eight months? I've 
  had a bit of time deciding whether to apply or not."

The fork slips out of Ari's fingers. "Two months?" She grabs the fork quickly. 
  "Um... I've been here a month or so, now."

Tance, for the most part, seems intent on keeping his brown gaze on the steak 
  Kesya handed him -- though he slides Kesya's pasta dish a brief wistful look 
  before surreptitiously putting his knife down and picking up the beaker of 
  drink.

Kesya eyes Tance's steak dubiously. "You know, I didn't think of how hard that 
  would be to eat with one arm in a sling. You want a hand with it?"

Laurana watches the two eat and gets up to toss her own plate into the bin, 
  before returning with another glass of water.

Relief settles into Tance's expression, as he mutters, "Can't really, um, do 
  this and still look, um..." His voice drops, and he smirks, though perhaps 
  to himself. "... distinguished."

Kesya chuckles, and switches her plate with Tance's. "Mind if we share?" she 
  asks diplomatically. "I've been wanting to try this one anyway." She cuts 
  the steak up into little bits, and spears one with her fork as she takes a 
  taste.

Tance smiles just a bit, tentatively, but doesn't offer a word of protest. 
  Brown eyes flick from Kesya to the two recruits and back again, as he picks 
  slowly at the pasta and his beverage.

Laurana glances at her chrono, and yawns, "It's getting late for me..and I 
  still have a whole file to go through, If you'll excuse me please."
Laurana stands up from table two.
Laurana rambles away from the tables.
Laurana steps out into the corridor towards the location of the guest rooms.
Laurana has left.

Ariel nods to Laurana. "Night." (* Too late! *)

Kesya watches the recruit trail out, and takes a few more bites of steak 
  before sliding both plates equally between the two singers. "It's been a 
  while since I've done this," She says amusedly. "Shana and I used to share 
  dishes like this sometimes." She twines some pasta onto her fork, arching a 
  brow at Ariel. "So what brings you to apply for the Guild?"

You can hear crystal resonance rushing between your ears.
Non-singers around you see: The hairs on your arm stand on end and a chill 
  goes up your spine. You notice a strange expression on Tance's face.

Ariel smiles slightly as Kesya moves the plates. "Oh..." She glances at Tance, 
  rather than Kesya, and smiles. "I thought you might have use for a med."
Ariel looks back at Kesya and grins. "Seems like almost everyone from the 
  guild I've met has seen one recently -- or could stand to."

Kesya chuckles at the recruit, amused. "Well, it is a dangerous planet. You 
  have a medical background?" She frowns, "I've probably seen it in your file, 
  but I see so many they all tend to blend together sometimes."

Tance appears to miss Ariel's glance, as he alternates between spearing bits 
  of pasta and bits of steak. Occasionally, his gaze drifts to his own unslung 
  arm as he moves it, as if the way his sleeve covers it fascinates him; 
  perhaps afraid of getting food on it, he eats with awkward slowness.

Ariel nods, ignoring the curious urge to brush down the hair on her arms 
  again. "I graduated from medical school and have practiced for several years 
  now."

Kesya seems impressed, her gaze again going to the recruit. "Well, that /is/ 
  something the guild can certainly make use of. We have some of the best 
  medics in the FSP, so I'm sure there is alot you could learn from them too."

Ariel smiles. "There are always new things to be learned. The field of 
  medicine is always changing." Her smile drifts wistfully. "I haven't been 
  able to keep up on some of the latest advancements, unfortunately. Working 
  as a ship's doctor, you tend to see fairly pedestrian injuries."

Kesya leans back in her chair, the opaque brown fabric shimmering along her 
  arms. "And every society or planet in the FSP has a different handle on it, 
  I'd imagine."

Ariel nods. "Exactly."

Tance slowly gets the hang of one-handed eating, and relaxes a bit, glancing 
  between the two women every so often.

Kesya cocks her head to one side consideringly, her green braids brushing the 
  back of her neck. "I don't think I'd be suited for medicine. Too much study 
  for my impatient self." She winks, and spears another bit of Tance's steak.

Ariel smiles. "That's part of its charm," she says softly. "Always something 
  new to discover. At least, for me."

Tance grins tinily to Kesya's remark, then blinkblinks, to the recruit. His 
  brow crinkles a bit at the notion of constant newness.

Jaenne enters from the guest corridor.
Jaenne has arrived.

Kesya smiles at the idea too. "I can see that," she says affably. "I s'pose 
  that's why I like training. And of course, being a Singer is always 
  exciting." She grins at Tance as she snags still more off his plate, 
  virtually ignoring her pasta dish.

Jaenne enters the lounge, moving to the catering unit. She glances briefly at 
  the other occupants of the room.

Ariel looks up sharply as someone enters the periphery of her vision. She nods 
  to Kesya. "It seems to have its share of... excitement."

"Um, yeah," puts in Tance, brusquely, after swallowing a mouthful of food.

Jaenne dials a sandwich and beer from the catering unit, then tries to decide 
  where to sit.

Jaenne
Sleek dark hair is cut in a cap around a sharp, heart-shaped face with a short 
  nose, rather thin mouth, and prominent cheekbones. Possibly her best feature 
  is slanted, dark grey eyes with long lashes that somehow look like they were 
  pasted onto the wrong face by accident. In form as well she looks 
  mismatched, with a slender, almost wiry torso, and curved but powerful hips 
  and legs. Somewhere in her mid-twenties, she has a look of readiness about 
  her that is fairly disconcerting.
  A pale gold blouse is worn loose, the top three buttons left open to reveal 
  a slender neck, prominent collarbone, and a smooth expanse of pale skin. The 
  blouse is short enough to give brief views of a flat stomach. Black pants 
  are fitted to her legs, tucked into calf-high boots with a soft sole that 
  allows her to walk almost soundlessly.
  
Jaenne looks at you for a moment.
Jaenne's eyes narrow slightly and she nods to herself, moving toward the 
  tables.

Kesya nods to the entering recruit, and turns back to Tance, now actually 
  eating from her pasta dish. The dishes though, have become mostly empty. 
  "You want a refill or anything, Tance?"

Jaenne walks over to the tables.

Tance bobs his head mutely to Kesya, glancing down at the plates, and looking 
  briefly like a half-starved small child.

Kesya gives him an amused, searching look. "Okay. What's your preference?"

Jaenne nods briefly at the group at the second table. "May I?" She sits 
  without actually waiting for permission.
Jaenne sits down at table two.

"Um... something I can eat with one hand..." Attention divided between the new 
  arrival and Kesya's question, Tance fiddles for a moment with the sling on 
  his arm, sheepishly.

Ariel nods her assent to the woman, even though it doesn't seem to be required.

Jaenne takes a bite out of her sandwich, trying to listen to the conversation 
  more than anything at the moment.

Kesya ignores the new arrival for a few moments, to talk to the singer across 
  from her. "Ah, munchies then." She stands, moving to the catering unit, 
  where she orders chicken fingers and nachos, and some vegetable sticks. 
  Bringing the tray back, she takes a seat and pushes it towards him.

Tance mumbles something that might be thanks, before settling down to start 
  munching. After a moment he seems to re-register the presence of others at 
  the table, and he thinks, visibly and intently, before asking, "Um...?", and 
  gesturing at the plate with his free hand by way of offer.

Jaenne takes a long drink of beer and finally says, "Anyone here 2023?"

Tance pauses, looking blankly at the newcomer with the beer. Then, clearly 
  puzzled, he looks to Kesya -- expecting her to explain?

You feel resonance tingling in your bones.
Non-singers around you see: The hairs on your arm stand on end and a chill 
  goes up your spine. You notice a strange expression on Tance's face.

Ariel smiles at the man, and helps herself to some of the vegetables. "I am," 
  she says to Jaenne.

Jaenne rubs absently at her arms. "Singer or drone?"

You say "Who... um... me?"

Ariel frowns. "'Scuse me?"

Kesya smiles surprisedly at Tance's offer (Actually offering food to others? 
  Woah!), and she nods amiably in Jaenne's direction. "I'm Kesya As'shoriah, 
  one of the Co-heads of Training for the Guild." She gestures to the man 
  across from her, "And this is Tance Vokrim, Senior singer. You're Jaenne, 
  correct?"

Jaenne's attention diverts from Ariel completely. Singer, and senior at that. 
  She gives Tance a thoughtful look before realizing the rest of what Kesya 
  said. "How do you know my name?"

Kesya snags a chicken finger from Tance's tray. "Your holo is on the training 
  files," she says matter-of-factly. I, of course, see those files."

Ariel rises slowly to her feet. "I'm sorry... I'm a little wiped."

The green-skinned woman goes on to say, "I usually come up to make sure new 
  recruits are settling well. I trust you are?"

If the man is a senior Singer, he must be a shy one. Or a hungry one. Or both, 
  for he keeps most of his attention on the platter of munchies before him, 
  plucking them out one or two at a time with his right hand, and making 
  steady progress through them.

Jaenne keeps her eyes on the man as she speaks, her expression assessing. "I 
  am. Will there be more Singers up here, to answer questions and such?"

Ariel bows her head slightly towards the people at the table, and dumps her 
  tray in the disposal before she slowly makes her way out of the room, 
  rubbing her arms and looking back curiously.
Ariel steps out into the corridor towards the location of the guest rooms.

"There will be for Full Disclosure," the green-skinned Singer answers. "And 
  generally there are Singers up here now and then anyway, coming back from 
  time off-planet, or just to relax."

Tance looks up, but only halfway, brow crinkled. "I hadda soak," he mutters, 
  musingly.

Jaenne waves that away. "I don't want to ask with all the other recruits 
  around anyway. I want to know how you get to the top."

Kesya /does/ seem amused at that so-casually announced statement. "To the top, 
  in the Guild?" She answers blithely, "Through hard work and luck, of course."

Jaenne nods shortly. "I expect to work and I have plenty of luck. But you make 
  things happen faster if you don't wait around for them."

Kesya points her nacho towards the recruit as she speaks, "There really is no 
  'top' among singers though. Unless you count the Guildmaster."

Tance starts frowning to himself at the mention of luck, and for a moment, his 
  dark eyes turn depressed and distant. Poking a finger at a strip of carrot, 
  he mumbles, "Hasta like you... else luck just stays away...."

Jaenne frowns. "You said Senior Singer. And financial records indicate a 
  distinct difference between the top Singer's salaries and the bottom ones."

Kesya surreptitiously squeezes Tance's hand, reaching for another bit of 
  carrot. "Luck comes and goes with Singer. And Senior singers are there based 
  on how much crystal they've cut, and time with the Guild. I'm a senior 
  singer as well, but of course, don't have as much experience as Tance does."

Jaenne looks between the two of them. "What do you mean, of course? You look 
  near the same age."

Kesya smiles placidly, ever the professional trainer. "Well, Tance joined 
  before me, so does have more experience cutting."

Tance mutters, "Crazy old karker, don't have a credit..." But he trails off at 
  Kesya's hand squeeze, blinking first at her, then at the recruit, bemused.

Jaenne turns to look at Tance. "How long have you been cutting crystal?"

Kesya casts Tance a wary look, a small, bemused smile on her face.

Tance pauses, brow furrowing again, looking actively troubled. "I... "His gaze 
  shoots to Kesya, then.

Jaenne gives Kesya a thoughtful look. "Interesting," is all she says.

Kesya chuckles softly. "Ah, we've both been cutting a few years, but Tance 
  just a few more than me. But he doesn't have to worry about doing paperwork 
  for you recruits on the side." She asks then, changing the subject, "So 
  where do you hail from?"

Jaenne takes a bite of her sandwich while Kesya speaks, and has to chew and 
  swallow before she responds. "Markianali, originally, but I haven't gone 
  back for years."

Kesya frowns, shaking her head. "Never been there," she comments. "Though I 
  have heard a /bit/ about it."

At the change of subject, Tance can be seen to relax a trifle, and he hastily 
  returns to the consumption of his food.

Jaenne sips at her beer again. "I've never seen green skin before."

Kesya shrugs, her hands in her lap as she's finished her meal. "Taal'en," she 
  says simply. "All natives have green skin and hair, though plenty of Terran 
  folks have moved there to settle."

Jaenne nods and goes back to eating her sandwich for the moment, although 
  she's watching Tance again.

Tance keeps quiet, munching carrots and chicken bits, and occasionally 
  diverting to his beverage.

Jaenne nods to Tance. "Where're you from?"

Tance freezes, brown eyes going round, flicking up a moment to the recruit, 
  then to Kesya. His mouth opens a moment, then closes, and the look of alarm 
  that flickers across his gaze is unmistakable. "B..." That comes out of him 
  almost too hoarse to be heard, before he goes on awkwardly, "Ballybran. 
  Ballybran."

Jaenne swallows quickly, in surprise. "You were born on Ballybran? I didn't 
  know they had natives."

You feel resonance tingling in your bones.
Non-singers around you see: If you happen to be near Tance, the hair on your 
  arm stands on end.

Kesya chuckles softly, reassuringly, nuding Tance's leg with her foot, under 
  the table.

"No... not from... I..." Tance blinks, looking palpably dismayed, and his gaze 
  flies back to Kesya.

Kesya snorts softly, stretching languidly before she speaks. "Ah, he may as 
  well have been. Pretty devoted to the place now, as you can imagine." She 
  adds privately to the recruit, "He /is/ a pretty private person though, if 
  you get my meaning?"

Jaenne frowns. "Why do you keep answering for him?" Her gaze goes back to 
  Tance. "You can talk okay, right?"

"Yeah..." the man answers, warily.

Jaenne smiles to herself. "So, talk to me. I'm not trying to attack you or 
  anything. I just want to know the answers."

Kesya arches a brow at Jaenne. "Like I said, some Singers do enjoy their 
  _privacy_. I answer for him because he does not like talking about himself 
  very much, and yet you still ask despite hints in that direction. Just be 
  careful, for some Singers aren't as polite about it as he is." She is 
  undoubtedly the full trainer, Crystal Singer now, stern of voice and 
  expression. Then, turning to Tance, she asks, "Ice cream to finish, then 
  we're off?"

Laurana enters from the guest corridor.
Laurana has arrived.

That alarm doesn't quite subside out of Tance's face. He shifts uneasily in 
  his seat, before mumbling at last, "Left... home..." Is there an unsure note 
  in his voice, on that word? "... long time ago. I... don't wanna talk about 
  that." At Kesya's last question, though, he promptly straightens and asks, 
  "Peach?"

Kesya has obviously pushed the matter out of her mind, as she gets up to make 
  demands of the catering unit.

Jaenne shrugs. "I was just asking questions." She turns back to her sandwich, 
  expression still thoughtful.

Laurana reenters the lounge, drowsy eyed, and mumbling about uncomfortable 
  beds. When she finally opens her eyes and glances around the room, she stops 
  short at Jaenne, before frostily ignoring her and murmuring a, "G'evening." 
  around..but somehow you feel it isn't directed to her classmate.

Jaenne smiles at Laurana anyway. "Ah, have you seen Shane? I was thinking 
  about heading off to bed, and didn't want him to wonder..."

Kesya takes two bowls from the catering unit, and places one before Tance. 
  "Peach ice cream, as requested," she comments cheerful to him. "I've just 
  got one more thing to do here after this, and then we're ready to go back to 
  Ballybran if you like."

At Laurana's return, Tance blinks over at her for a moment, disorientedly -- 
  then is promptly distracted by the ice cream. He actively beams at it, 
  before taking up the spoon and devouring the dessert with much more speed 
  than he'd gone after his earlier dishes.

Laurana watches in bemusement, and flippantly turns to answer Jaenne, "He was 
  around earlier..went to bed."

Jaenne finishes her sandwich and beer, tossing both containers in the disposal 
  as she rises. "Perhaps I should go join him then," she says easily, although 
  her eyes are on Laurana.

"He doesn't want to see you again." the other girl answers shortly, "You were 
  disgusting, lewd, and sopping drunk, the other night."

Kesya arches a brow silently as she listens, her attention *apparently* as 
  much on her dish of ice cream as Tance's is on his.

Laurana's preferences are set to:   !death angst building code flirting_ic ic 
  log_ok newbie_helper ooc rl roleplay tinyplots

Ariel's preferences are set to:   !building !code !death flirting_ic ic 
  roleplay tinyplots tinysex

Jaenne laughs. "Exactly where do you think he slept LAST night?"
Jaenne stands up from table two.

Kesya continues mentally taking notes, all the while acting as though she 
  weren't even in the room. Blithely spooning up ice cream, her gaze follows 
  the two recruits.

Laurana's face tenses barely and she turns to the guildmembers, "I'm sorry for 
  interrupting your dinner, and dessert, but if you'll excuse me again."
Laurana steps out into the corridor towards the location of the guest rooms.
Laurana has left.

Jaenne smiles, apparently very pleased with that result, and moves to the 
  conversation pit, retrieving another beer from the catering unit.
Jaenne jaunts away from the tables.
Jaenne treads over to the conversation pit.
Jaenne sits down on a couch.

Kesya sets her spoon in her empty dish now, taking out her datapad to make a 
  few quick notes before she stands. "Ready?" She smiles at the older singer, 
  seeming completely unperturbed.. though undoubtedly her mind is completely 
  on recruit matters.

Tance has practically inhaled the ice cream. Glancing off unsurely at the 
  recruit still left in the room, he then nods quickly.

Jaenne retrieves a few flimsies from her pocket and starts looking them over.

Kesya waits then for Tance to stand and get himself organized, and nods a 
  farewell to the recruit. "Goodnight Jaenne," she says politely, "I'm sure 
  I'll see you later." That could be a warning, the way it was said, but she 
  /does/ seem the epitomy of good-intention. She stacks the dishes in the 
  disposal unit, and privately flashes Tance a fond smile before she ducks out 
  the door.
Kesya steps into the corridor.
Kesya has left.

Tance rises, awkwardly with his broken arm, and after muttering, "Uh, bye...", 
  he lopes out after the Trainer.

You step into the corridor.
Corridor for Heptite Guild Members Quarters(#59RAL)
This simple hallway is lined with rooms, all available for Guild Members to 
  use when they are on Shankill, or they may link their personal quarters 
  here. Several bright stripes lead to different offices, quarters, and the 
  common lounge. 
Contents:
Kesya
Obvious exits:
Liste and Andi's Suite  Jerrik's Suite  Rhianna's Suite  Sean's Suite  
  Shankill Infirmary  Aria's Suite  Security Quarters  Reception Area  
  Training Rooms  Common Lounge  

Tance comes loping after you, brow once more furrowed.

Kesya links her arm through yours, now worriedly gazing into your face as she 
  walks with you. "You okay? I know that might have been a little 
  unpleasant..."

Tance turns a plaintive regard to you, and says, "I don't... I don't know 
  where I'm from..."

You can hear crystal resonance rushing between your ears.
Non-singers around you see: If you happen to be near Tance, the hair on your 
  arm stands on end.

Kesya smiles reassuringly at you, and tugs you along. "Well... let's look it 
  up in your file then."
Kesya steps into the Training corridor.
Kesya has left.

You step into the Training Corridor.
Training Corridor
This corridor, often tread by eager recruits, is decorated in lively shades of 
  cream and gold, with a matching runner softening your footsteps in this busy 
  area. Sounds of talking occasionally issue from the trainers' offices at one 
  end of the hall, and the common lounge at the other. Another hall branches 
  off to the Guild members quarters, and the heavy double doors to the lecture 
  hall loom imposingly off to the other side. 
Contents:
Kesya
Obvious exits:
Trainers' Office  Lecture Hall  Guild Members  Common Lounge  

Kesya opens the door to the trainer's office, smiling at you before slipping 
  inside.
Kesya steps into the Trainers' Office.
Kesya has left.

You step into the office for the trainers.
Trainers' Office(#1088RA)
This space, used by trainers and meditechs when on recruitment duty, is 
  thankfully spacious. Several partitions separate the workspaces of the 
  various technicians, providing privacy and space. Each desk has its own data 
  access pad. Sound absorbers lend the room a hushed atmosphere, and dim light 
  filters through a natural grating above.
Contents:
Kesya
LectureNotes
Heptite Guild Interview Board(#1606Vs)
Obvious exits:
Corridor  

Tance trails along after you, asking bemusedly, "My... my file?"

Kesya nods to the various training techs on duty in here, and moves to a free 
  computer terminal. "It's /got/ to be on your file, Tance. Want to see it?"

Tance blinks, then slowly, wide-eyedly nods. "I should see... if... people 
  ask, I-I need to know..." And he trails off, frowning at himself.

Kesya squeezes your hand before turning to the computer, touching the screen 
  here and there to select menu items before stating, "Computer, personal file 
  for CS Tance Vokrim."

The computer blinks, pulling up a file with pictures scattered throughout, and 
  a touch-screen scroll-bar at the right.

Tance sinks down into a chair before the terminal, staring at the screenful of 
  vital statistics on him. His name; a current picture -- or at least a recent 
  one; in the picture, he's got a beard. His age; over that, his gaze lingers 
  for a moment. And, under Planet of Origin, the word 'Syrine'.

Kesya looks over your shoulder, one hand on your back. "Finding some 
  interesting information?"

Tance stares, transfixed, at the screen before him, then points a finger at 
  the planet listed as his homeworld. "I...." His gaze lifts to you, helpless. 
  "Jade, I... have no idea where that world is."

Kesya bites her lip, frowning. "Me neither. Let's find out." She pulls forth 
  another window on the computer, calling up information on the planet 
  'Syrine'.
Kesya laughs lightly as she pulls up the information. "Ninety percent water! 
  Now we know where you learned to sail, Tance!"

Tance watches, fretfully, as the information springs up; when it does, he 
  starts quickly scanning it. He reaches the statistics on the water-to-land 
  ratio just as you laugh, and at that, he looks over to you, encouraged. "I 
  guess, I guess that makes sense..."

Kesya ruffles your hair with one hand, leaning to peer at the screen. "Um hmm. 
  Looks nice! Lots of fishing, water sports...."

Tance murmurs wistfully, "Don't remember it."

Kesya pulls forth a chair to sit down beside you. She murmurs lowly, "Well, we 
  /could/ go visit sometime."

Tance meets your gaze, his own hopeful, at least for a moment, before he turns 
  plaintive again. "But... you're, um, busy, and I'm broke..."

Kesya's tone is thoughtful, considering. "Well, I'm busy /now/. The recruits 
  have just started dropping on Ballybran, and there's lots left to do with 
  this bunch. But between classes, there's always a few weeks where it's 
  possible to cut crystal or travel. That's how Shana and I manage to get into 
  the Ranges, usually." She pauses, considering. "So between this class and 
  next, it's doable."

You can hear crystal resonance coursing gently through your body.
Non-singers around you see: Tance is often distracted. When you are near him 
  the hair on your arms stands on end, which you unconsciously brush down.

Tance doesn't actually bite his lip, but his expression suggests he would if 
  he thought of it. "Still broke, though," he mutters lowly.

Kesya shrugs off-handedly. "Not for long. We have to go finish off that black 
  claim, and soon before the market changes, but that will help quite a bit."

"But...." Tance frowns vaguely, turning back to the terminal, and paging back 
  to his file. He pages through it till he reaches his credit balance, and 
  winces at the number. "Gotta cut a lot, to bring that up...."

Kesya chuckles softly, and shakes her head. "Not of black, you don't."
Kesya adds thoughtfully, "If we get good groupings, and we catch the market 
  right with the shape."

Tance smiles a little, absently. "We... we cut black." A reminder, to himself. 
  He turns back to you, blinking again. "But just half of that claim -- I mean 
  --" He sighs, and finishes, "I gotta lotta debt."

Kesya's arms, covered by the filmy brown fabric, cross her chest as she gazes 
  thoughtfully at you. "Well," she begins, "There's /nothing/ wrong with my 
  credit balance, and I do have... " She bites her lip, gaze going to the 
  ceiling tiles as she mentally tallies, "Well a /lot/ of black in cargo ready 
  to be sorted. I won't sell it all now, of course... wouldn't do to kill the 
  market like that, but we certainly aren't hurting for credits."

Tance blinks. "But... that's your black..."

Kesya lays one arm across your shoulders, her frank and fond gaze turning to 
  you, bemusedly. "Tance, I have so much now that if I didn't give at least 
  /some/ of it away, I'd become insufferably full of myself," she jokes. "You 
  don't want that to happen, do you?"
Kesya waves a hand vaguely in the air, "Other singers take long holidays off 
  on exotic planets, but I can't spend that much time away from training..." 
  This time she does sigh, regretfully. "...So it just.... piles up."

Tance gazes at you, fully. "But... but you keep giving me things. Clothes..." 
  He plucks at his vest, with his free hand, and then touches the pouch at his 
  waist where he's stowed his little datapad, before looking up at you again. 
  "And food, and..."

Kesya shakes her head, her expression turning serious. "That was for /me/ 
  Tance," she insists. "Having you look good, when you're here on Shankill 
  meeting people I work with, makes me look professional too. And food costs 
  next to nothing anyway."
Kesya grins slyly at the Singer, taking his hand in hers. "Besides, you're 
  worth it."
Kesya leans forward too, to whisper in the other Singer's ear. "It /was/ 
  awfully fun seeing the look on your face when you actually had /new/ clothes 
  on."

Tance's fingers tighten around the green ones clasping his own, and he grins 
  crookedly at the teasing. "Did, um, did I say thank you?" he asks.

Kesya blinks at the question, eyes searching. "I... don't remember, actually." 
  She grins, winking. "It doesn't matter. That look on your face was thanks 
  enough."

Fingers still curled around yours, brown gaze still fixed on your face, Tance 
  adds shyly, "And you're... helping me remember. Means... means a lot."

You feel resonance tingling in your bones.
Non-singers around you see: Tance is often distracted. When you are near him 
  the hair on your arms stands on end, which you unconsciously brush down.

Kesya's smile seems to suffuse those gentle features, her eyes shining as she 
  returns your gaze. "I know, Tance," she says softly. "Tance... I care a lot 
  about you, so of /course/ your memory is important to me." Now it's the 
  green-skinned singer's turn to blush, as her eyes drop for a moment.

Kesya's gaze remains on the ground for a long moment, your hand wrapped in 
  both of hers.

Tance leans slightly closer to you, mouth parting a moment, before he seems to 
  catch himself; for that same moment, you can feel his hand shake a bit in 
  your own. But he's also grinning, utterly unconsciously. "Like you too," he 
  murmurs.

Kesya starts as she feels your breath, her gaze lifting just in time to catch 
  that smile. She casts you a momentary, astonished look -- before she returns 
  your smile with one of her own. "So," she swallows nervously, gaze 
  flickering to the screen a moment, "After 2022 is done... we take a little 
  trip to Syrine?"

At that, Tance pulls in a breath, and nods hesitantly, looking more like his 
  usual shy self. "I... guess so..." He glances back at his file on the 
  terminal screen. "Kinda scared..."

Kesya's gaze lingers on you, as though looking for that expression you had on 
  your face just now. She eventually follows your gaze to the computer, and 
  nods in reply. "I guess it would be. But just think... we'd be treated very 
  well, as visiting Singers from the Heptite Guild." She puffs out her chest, 
  acting the ever-haughty Crystal Singer, a challenging expression crossing 
  her features before dropping again. Smiling slyly, the green-skinned woman 
  finishes, "It'll be fun, and meanwhile, we can secretly delve into your 
  past."

Tance grins again, though not as widely, or as unself-consciously, as before. 
  "Th-think we should?" His gaze stays on the screen, meeting the brown regard 
  of his own holo-recorded image.

If you pay attention to it, the crystal resonance can be heard coursing 
  through your body at all times.
Non-singers around you see: If you happen to be near Tance, the hair on your 
  arm stands on end.

Kesya's expression has regained its normally cheerfully reassuring appearance. 
  "Of course I do," she insists lightly, squeezing your hand with her own. 
  "It'll be fun. We could even go sailing again."

[With this in mind, we end our log... to be continued.]