A Lukewarm Reception

[Laehval tTemarr 0]

A Lukewarm Reception

A shore leave log by

El'Riov Laehval t'Temarr

 

 

 

“Do you even know where you’re going?” D’elon asked as he paced beside Laehval, matching his long stride to her shorter steps. “You have already passed three of the best inns and two respectable hostels.”

 

“You are free to leave and head back to any one of them,” she replied dryly. Her eyes drifted to the shops and homes of the sprawling lakeside village, searching for one location in particular. “Conversely, there is still time for you to return to Gal Gath’thong and throw yourself into one of the lava pools.”

 

“But then I would miss out on all the fun of harassing you for the rest of your trip,” he grinned and adjusted the pack on his shoulder.

 

He was carrying her pack because he wouldn’t let her carry it herself, a point which irritated her to no end. However, as he was several inches taller and far more muscular, she could do little to force him to relinquish it. She huffed in response to his comment and fell silent deciding the most expedient way of making him leave would be to ignore him. She soon found that tactic useless as he was perfectly content to rambling on about himself without any verbal response on her part.

 

“D’elon,” she said finally to stop his unceasing prattle.

 

“I was wondering how long you would let me go,” he said in amusement. “Are you going to make conversation with me now?”

 

“No. We are here.”

 

Laehval turned sharply off the main village road and passed through an elegantly fashioned archway, moving up the path to what seemed to be a large residential dwelling. The grounds were immaculately kept and overflowing with flowering bushes and trees of all types. The front entrance opened to them as they approached and chimed softly as they crossed over the threshold. The interior of the home was as scrupulously clean as the exterior conveyed and was decorated in casual furnishings and colors that immediately exuded a comfortable atmosphere. Pleased with what she saw, Laehval waited patiently for the caretaker to appear.

 

Only moments after they entered, a slender Rihan woman moved into the room from the hallway and slid behind the foyer counter. Though she attempted a smile, it seemed forced and more like a grimace than anything remotely friendly. Her eyes narrowed as she noted D’elon and she quickly glanced away. Activating the small terminal on the desk, she looked expectantly at Laehval.

 

“Do you have a reservation?”

 

“Yes. t’Temarr.”

 

“One moment,” the woman said as she began to make inquiries into her computer. Almost immediately her eyebrows began to draw downward into a scowl. “I am afraid that your reservation was cancelled.”

 

“I made no such cancellation.”

 

“No. We were forced to do so. Your reserved room was damaged by an electrical malfunction and is currently undergoing repairs.”

 

“I was not notified of any cancellation,” Laehval protested hotly, now wearing a scowl that matched the caretaker’s.

 

“You were notified approximately seven hours after your reservation.”

 

“I had already left the ship by that time and would have had no way to receive such a message.”

 

“I am extremely apologetic, but that is an unfortunate circumstance over which we have no control.”

 

“Very well. What of another room, then?” Laehval asked impatiently.

 

“Our other rooms are already reserved and unavailable. Perhaps I might suggest one of the other inns in the village?”

 

“I have no desire to find other lodging. I specifically selected this establishment based on several criteria. I expect you to find me other accommodations,” Laehval snapped.

 

“That simply is not possible,” the woman snapped back, now glaring.

 

“Ria’al,” D’elon scolded. “Stop pretending that you are far more important than you really are and give this woman a room”

 

“Stay out of this D’elon!” Ria’al ordered. “All of our other rooms are full and we have nothing to spare.”

 

“Now that is a bold lie,” D’elon said with a snort. “I know for a fact that you have the tower room available.”

 

“That room is reserved for important personages only,” she said haughtily.

 

“This is the off-season, Ria’al. No one is coming to visit. And the most important person you have ever had stay in that room was a minor noble with aspirations to the Senate. Give her the room. Do you not realize who she is?”

 

“No one of import,” Ria’al replied, glancing warily back to Laehval.

 

D’elon gasped and touched Laehval softly on the arm and half-bowed. “Lhhei! I must apologize for the behavior of this woman. She obviously does not know of your rank or position. Please do not take offense or send someone to punish her. I assure you that I will deal with this matter personally.”

 

Laehval frowned at D’elon’s tactic, but could not fault his acting ability. “You know that forgiveness of such an unfortunate decision is impossible,” she said coldly, brown gaze boring through Ria’al. She pulled an ISD from the pack that D’elon carried and tapped in a quick sequence. “I could overlook the offense, but not the attitude. I shall have to note this in my write-up.”

 

Ria’al glanced from Laehval to the now acquiescent D’elon and back again. Confusion and uncertainty crept into her expression. “What are you writing? Who are you?”

 

“That is entirely my business,” she replied without looking up.

 

D’elon grimaced at Laehval’s expression and leaned over the counter to murmur to Ria’al. After several minutes of intense conversation, Ria’al’s eyes widened in panic. She cleared her throat and pretended to check her terminal.

 

“Ah, lhhei,” she started hesitantly, “I was previously mistaken. It seems that the tower room is available after all and I would be honored if you would occupy it for the entirety of your stay. Here is your personal code that will allow you access.”

 

----------------------

 

Sometime later Laehval and D’elon found themselves alone in an expansive and keenly furnished suite of rooms. Ria’al had gushed the entire way, giving them a brief history of the lodge along with a laundry list of the establishment’s most desirable amenities. Once she’d given them a tour of their room, she’d made an overly-hasty exit as quickly as possible. Laehval marveled at the change in their hostess, turning to D’elon for an answer to her unspoken question.

 

“I told her that you were here to review her accommodations and would be writing up an article for the upcoming tourist season. When I mentioned that it would be broadcast to millions of Rihans on the planet, she came to the realization that it was probably not best to alienate you. It was the least I could do for nearly ruining your vacation. She was basing her prejudice of you on her dislike of me. Ria’al and I have somewhat of a… history.”

 

“Of a romantic nature, I assume?”

 

“Something akin to that,” he admitted bashfully.

 

“I see. And when the article does not appear? I may never visit here again, but I would like to keep my options open.”

 

“I have a friend in Ra'tleihfi that actually does this type of review. I will send him pertinent details and ask that he include them in his next write-up.”

 

“Comforting how easily you are able to deceive people,” Laehval said as she lifted her pack off of the couch.

 

“And yet you were quite convincing in your own play-acting.”

 

“I have had recent practice,” she said wryly as she began to search through her things.

 

“Oh? Who were you pretending to be?”

 

“The Praetor.”

 

D’elon burst with laughter. “I am glad to see you have a sense of humor!”

 

She sighed and shook her head. Somehow she doubted he would believe the truth. Alternate realities were difficult enough to explain. Alternate selves were even more confusing. And surely anyone that knew her knew that she had no high aspirations, least of all to be Praetor.

 

She pulled out her clothing storage unit and tucked it under her arm, taking both it and her pack into the bedroom. With the press of a button on the unit, her clothing unfolded neatly and wrinkle-free. The room’s closet was the literally the size of her crew quarters on the Talon. Her few articles of clothing seemed a paltry offering for such a large and luxurious space. She hung them slightly spaced to give the illusion of taking up more room than was actually needed. She also spent a few minutes browsing though the section of complimentary robes and slippers and sleepwear. The material was very exotic and soft. She threw a robe over her arm and turned to exit, but found the way blocked by her companion. His hands rested on the top of the door frame and he leaned inside slightly to stretch and examine the space.

 

“Not bad, but it looks as though you need more clothing to fill it. Perhaps I should take you to some of the shops in town to buy you some pretty things to wear.”

 

Laehval scowled. “Let us get one thing straight, D’elon tr’Rehu. I am allowing you to stay here only because you amuse me and I thought you might be good company. I am not and never will be your female to do with as you please. I do not accept gifts from near-strangers and am suddenly having reservations about this situation. You could be a deranged lunatic for all I know.”

 

“But you looked through my file before you came here,” he said with a grin. “So you already know my background. Plus, if you insist I leave, you will not have the pleasure of driving my high-altitude flyer.”

 

“Some experiences are not worth the sacrifice,” she stated.

 

“But this one is,” he argued. “We have plenty of room here and you will want for nothing. And I promise not to be greedy with the bed covers.”

 

“On that count, I know you speak the truth for you will be spending your nights on the sitting room couch while I take the bed,” she smirked and threw a robe at him.

 

“I sincerely hope not,” he teased as he caught the robe. “I am curious, though. Why exactly did you select this place above all the others?”

 

“Several reasons,” she explained, selecting one of the smaller robes for her own use. She pushed her way past him and moved back into the sitting room where the broad windows opened to a grand view of the valley, the lakes, and several noble estates in the distance. “The view is incomparable, the restaurant is rated one of the most excellent dining experiences in this area, and their natural mineral baths are perfectly calibrated to the right temperature.”

 

“Wait… how could you possibly know the calibrations of their equipment?”

 

“I personally know the technician that installed and programmed them and he does amazing work.”

 

“You chose to stay here based on the temperature calibrations of their bath water?”

 

“Partly, yes,” she said honestly. “I am very particular about that.”

 

“You…” he paused, speechless, “… you are such a typical engineer, Laehval t’Temarr.” He chuckled at her expression.

 

“I thank you for the compliment.”

 

That sent him into a fit of maniacal laughter, which intensified every time he caught a glimpse of her staring at him. Her frown deepened in annoyance as his episode continued, so she simply left him and headed for the room’s private bathing pool. Not surprisingly, his laughter stopped as he realized she was shedding clothing along the way.

[m_k_tksa 0]

“You are free to leave and head back to any one of them,” she replied dryly. Her eyes drifted to the shops and homes of the sprawling lakeside village, searching for one location in particular. “Conversely, there is still time for you to return to Gal Gath’thong and throw yourself into one of the lava pools.”

 

Lava pools - gives a new meaning to telling a person to go jump into a lake when you're annoyed with them.

 

Great log!