Forums » Sci-Fi Roleplay » Travellers (Semi-Open RP between Tara and Catrin)

The hologram nodded, "My thanks, Mistress. I wished to make this representation as aesthetically pleasing as possible."

"Well..." Tara said, looking the hologram up and down, "If you like it, then I do too."

"I am glad you approve, Mistress." The AI said, "Miss Catrin believed that this was pleasing enough. Do you wish for me to set it as my default appearance from now on?"

Tara smiled and nodded, "Yes, I think that would b best."

Catrin chuckled. “I'm glad that you like it. I had never seen a Terelain male before, so this was a first for me. So it's an attractive one, hm? Funny, I thought so, too. Do you think there might be any attributes that make males look sexy across various species?” she asked Tara innocently.

"Well...uh... I ... Um... uh..." Tara stammered, clearly not expecting that question.

"In most humanoid species, it is the males rather than the females who were the hunters, warriors and protectors, therefore standards of attraction for potential mates involved looking for signs of physical health and good genetic quality. This would usually be seen through good strength, reflexes, tallness and breadth of the upper body." The AI said, "Musculature is also a contributing factor. Because these factors are broadly similar across multiple humanoid species they also inform standards of attractiveness, so that it stands to reason that there would be some crossover."

"Um...yes... exactly." Tara said, "The AI chose a male with um... broad shoulders, obvious musculature and good physical health and well-kept shiny fur, which is an indicator of health and status in Terelains." She'd started playing with her tail, either nervous or embarrassed by the sudden topic of conversation.

"I also based the body upon a former king, of the Royal House of Tynian. This carries subconscious cues of wealth, power and other such resources, another thing females seek in males." The AI said, "I was rather careful in my selection of my base model."

Tara seemed rather nervous, so Catrin did her best not to laugh. “Thank your for the analysis. That does sound plausible,” she thanked the AI, and tried keeping her face straight when he described to Tara some additional attractive attributes he added to his look. It was hard, but she managed.

"W-well... I'm quite pleased with the result." Tara said, "But it might take me a while to get used to it."

"I shall have to make use of this hologram more often then, to give you ample opportunity to adjust." The AI said.

"Um...yes...right...great." Tara said.

Catrin beamed at Tara. “Fantastic! Looking at a handsome male is much more convenient that talking into walls.” She quickly continued. “Were you going to do something, or are you in a 'doing nothing' place in your schedule?

"Oh... um... yes... much better." She looked away rom the hologram and then said, "As for my schedule, I don't have much to do until we get back to civilisation. I usually spend this leg of the trip sleeping and getting back into the rhythm of things, maybe drink a bottle or three of wine and read a few books."

"Or fiddle about with the latest must-have attachment you added to the shower, or some other piece of the ship that had no need for yet another upgrade." The AI said.

"Hmph, yes, well, I enjoy improving the ship." Tara said.

Catrin smiled. “Well, that sound reasonable. It's your home away from home, no?”

"Exactly. I spend more time in this ship than in my own house." Tara said.

"Perhaps if you spent less time on this ship and out in the middle of nowhere, you might get a chance to expand your social circle. By your age most Terelains usually have an entire planet's worth of old friends, acquaintances, and the like. I can name the number of people you talk to outside of your work or your family on one hand." The AI said.

"I'm quite happy as I am." Tara said.

"Still, we should arrive back in the Kingdom just in time for the advent of the Festival of the Thousand Years, it would be a good chance to mingle and enjoy yourself." The AI said.

"Parties aren't my thing." Tara said with a shrug, "Crowds aren't either."

Catrin rolled her eyes at the AI and mouthed “you're babysitting again” silently, making sure that Tara doesn't see her.

She turned to Tara and shrugged. “Some love company, others are exhausted by it.” She almost said 'The hologram is solid now, so you can smack him for these comments from now on,' but since the AI hadn't told Tara about the force fields yet, she didn't want to mention it. Instead, she continued. “And if enjoyment is the goal, then one or three bottles of wine and some books seem to be working for Tara,” she told the AI.

The AI sighed, "Apologies, Mistress, I simply worry that you might get a little..ah... lonely, with so few people to talk to."

Tara smiled, "Thanks for your concern, but I'll stick with my wine and my books." She chuckled, "Besides, the most interesting people to talk t at a festival like that would be one of the Revered Elders, and I doubt any one of them would deign to speak with a child like me."

"Don't sell yourself short, Mistress." The AI protested, "Your fame may just proceed you."

She nodded, "Hm... imagine getting to talk with a Revered Elder! It'd be the opportunity of a lifetime."

"You might get more than one if they take a shine to you." The AI pointed out, "And the festival would be the perfect opportunity to meet such an ancient."

"You're trying to trick me into going, aren;t you?" Tara accused him, though there was an amused playfulness to her tone.

"That depends entirely on whether it's working or not." The AI said, completely seriously.

Catrin gave Tara a thoughtful look. “Well, you can always leave early and go back to your books if it doesn't work out. As the AI pointed out, your fame may give you an advantage – perhaps from the point of view of these Revered Elders of yours, you may be an interesting distraction. Who knows, maybe they'll be looking for one.”

She looked at Catrin, then the AI and sighed, nodding, "Very well, I'll give the festival a try. It only happens once every thousand years anyway, so I suppose if I'm going to go I should do it in this millennium."

The AI smiled, "My thoughts exactly Mistress."

Catrin tilted her head a little while looking at Tara. “Well, you don't have to go, if you don't want to. It's not like anyone is forcing you to,” she said with a disapproving look at the AI before looking back at Tara, “but given your success in your field, the Elders might find you interesting. It's up to you if you want to meet them, though,” Catrin finished with a shrug, looking completely disinterested in which choice Tara will make.

Tara smiled, "Thank you, Catrin. Now that I think about it...well... I was barely into adulthood when the last festival was held, and I was too engrossed in my studies to take note of it. It would be a novel experience; it might eve be fun."

"If Miss Catrin decides to stay with us until we reach the Kingdom, then perhaps she may decide to take part in the festivities?" The AI said, "It's the biggest party in the galaxy."

Catrin smiled back at Tara. When the AI suggested she might decide to take part, she laughed. ”Oh, I hate parties. So probably not. But thank you for the suggestion,” she said, smiling at the AI. “And I may end up attending after all, for the learning possibilities I'm sure it will provide. When is this party, by the way?”

"In twenty seven days, standard." The AI said, "We will easily arrive a few days ahead of the festival's beginning, in fact we might even be able to make it to the Aera System... if you want to see the most spectacular instance of the festival in the entire galaxy, then we would have to land on Aerin itself, in Oberoth, the City and Seat of Kings, the First and Most Ancient, and capital of the Third Kingdom of Terel."

Tara smiled, "Yes, it would be nice to visit Oberoth again. It is our most ancient and most beautiful city, Catrin, it has stood at the heart of our people for untold thousands of years." She smiled, "It predates every civilisation in the galaxy except for the Atlanteans themselves."

"If you do decide to come to Aerin with us." The AI said, "If you do meet a Revered Elder, Catrin, I advise that you be cautious. Some of the oldest Elders are over twenty thousand years old, their influence is great and many are accomplished Mages. You can imagine the kind of trouble that could be caused of you were to cross one of them."

Catrin thought for a moment. “Twenty seven days, that's a lot of time. Hm, maybe. If Tara doesn't tire of my company before that,” she said with a rather merry look at Tara.

She turned to the AI at his warning. “I doubt I would want to meet one before I know everything that's available to know about their magic, at least to the point of being aware of what they're capable of doing. It can't be too difficult to avoid them, no?” she asked hopefully.

The AI chuckled, "Unless one of them gets curious. Revered Elders tend to gather a great deal of respect and influence, and if one decides he'd like to meet you, for whatever unfathomable reason, then there's little you could do to get out of it short of walking off to another planet or universe or whatever it is you do."

"Though that's highly unlikely." Tara interjected, "Since you're a nobody...um... no offence."

"There was a rumor going around that this festival will be attended by Nathaniel the Exile and Nariel Tynian-Amaar themselves." The AI said, "They are very old, very respected. Former monarchs in fact, founders of the Third Kingdom itself. If you have an interest in history and unique individuals, then the festival will be a rare chance to see them in person. They very rarely make public appearances anymore."

Tara smiled to herself, "Now that would be an honour, and an opportunity. I'd love to meet them... find out how much our people have changed over the years." She chuckled, "It is no secret that change happens rarely and slowly for my species, but that just means tracking such changes is more difficult than it is when studying Mayflies."

"You mean the Younger Races." The AI chided

"Oh, yes, of course." Tara said.

Catrin gave the AI a bright smile. “I'll try to blend in.” She laughed when Tara interjected. “Why, thank you,” she commented sarcastically. “Though frankly, I'd love to see what would happen if I just refused the honour, should it be bestowed upon me. Do they have people kidnapped?” she asked impishly.

“Hm. Mayflies? That... does seem to describe their life cycle, yes.”