Hmm, so she does use a lot of security on the ship. I shrug as she turns off the locks, "S'alright, I understand how it works. Plus you didn't really know anything about me until I got here, eh?" Nah, this is a standard thing for security so I'm not gonna worry about it.

Damn, this is a big fucking ship. "I'm impressed, Sakura. This is a lot more advanced than the iron tubs I got trucked all around in." Those computers might be an issue when there's a breach of some kind but she's probably got some kind of seal system worked out. Not a bad job of retrofitting another design; she's a got a lot more to her than she shows. The carpets are a nice touch, though I'd be a little worried about them without power... Ah, who the fuck am I kidding, if it's that bad then the compartments would have to be sealed off anyways.

I give her a warm grin when she giggles before opening the door, "Hey, everything on a ship needs a really long, categorizing name, right?" It's true, nothing is ever simple on a boat or ship. LTA's for just about everything. I follow her lead into the room, slowly looking around and taking everything in. Shit, if this is just her personal storage then who knows what else she could be packing around here. "I might just," I chuckle, "Though it looks like it'd need to be in a plastic casing instead of the wood." And that reference... I didn't think she had it in her. "An older someone introduced you to that movie," I ask with an honest smile, "It's good to hear people still get to see the classics."

I turn to face her completely, keeping my focus obviously on her, "So... do I get to see your favorite?"

"I will eventually."

She smirks for a moment.

"You know, I apologise for addressing your concerns. The carpeting is a lumenescent polymer compound. In absence of light, it reacts and glows for up to 5 days before it needs to be recharged by light. As for compartmentalization, I have that, and several escape routes to boot."

She points to a small airlock only a meter in size, with a few orange containers reading; "personal air supplys, 10 minute duration"

"I always have some sort of contingency plan should the need arise."

She walks over to a sub-compartment.

"Of all the things I have created, they all have had some sort of influence from anime. I find it provides enough ideas for several lifetimes. What I have on this ship though, owes it's existance from the prior scientists in the pre-nova age trying to figure it out. I only use what has been proven in formulas. I only figure out how to make it practical."

After flicking a switch, a tray opens.

"This is my personal favorite. A true to design plugsuit."

Indeed, it's Asuka Langley's suit. Perfectly made.

"One time, at a Cosplay meet, I decided to wear this. I had weaved in the memory polymers a matrix of interface antennae for helping me with my computer accessing talents. I needed to do some work on the side."

She lifts it up, and it seems to have the thickness and flexibility of silk, yet the shine of some form of rubber.

"Heh... It's a masterpiece that took 6 months to figure out. Right down to the switches on the wrist and these..."

She pulls out the famous "head electrodes".

"I managed to have these also provide a way for me to access wireless connections with my cyberkenetic talents."

She slides them on into her hair.

"And, they remind me of cat ears. But... this isn't my true favorite, only a prized work."

She walks over to a tube-like cylendar in the center of the "wearibles" section. It turns clear revealing...

"This... is mine..."

It isn't of any anime character that ever existed. It's of her own personal design. Incorporating a light pink tuxedo-like coat with sailor collar, with white tights and a short pink figure skater style skirt, and a white blouse with pink bow-tie that is tied about the neck like a normal tie under it's collar. It is reminicent of a stage-magician style costume almost.

"I wore this at this Karaoke party I, Samhra, Long, Conduit, and a few others attended. This is a favorite... for the fond memories it provided."

Ah, yes, the anime section. We all have our influences and this is obviously hers. It's suited her well: big fucking ship, loads of technology, and outfits that would never be appropriate anywhere but look damn good. If not fucking outrageous. "Hunh," I say with genuine interest as I look at the plugsuit, "I don't know the reference but this is some very impressive work." I ain't lying either, this stuff is thin and supple but apparently durable. Shit, when I was her age people were all proud about doing their own beadwork on their fringed vests. I let a sultry grin slowly creep on my face as I keep my eyes on hers, "Definitely impressive."

Hmm, that's right, she knows a good number of other novas and I remember seeing a blip about that karaoke thing last year. That does sound like a bit of fun but I ain't doing something like that in public anytime soon. Hey, I might've had some aspirations at singing but I sure as shit know that I shouldn't be doing it in public. I nod appreciately at the custom outfit and I subtly close some of the distance between us, "Those are the best memories... and thank you for sharing something so personal."

Time to test the waters a bit. The distance between me and her is minimal now; it's almost impossible for me not to catch her pink eyes and I barely have to move my hand when I gently slide one of the electrodes from her hair and my voice lowers, "Tell me what you sang, Sakura..."

Sakurako turns towards Sam, smiling. "Ever listen to Enya, Sam?" She lilts as she holds his hand. "It was one of her songs. Showed off a bit too. Brought the house down."

She pauses.

"Thing is, 2 of thg gang as dissapeared, one of them hasn't even been in contact since the Karaoke party. The other, tends to be a loner. And don't ask me about the griffon. I have my suspicions he's not all there anymore."

She moves closer to him, looking to get into physical contact, to feel his person with her own.

"I... Tend to hang around drifters alot, it seems. You're the first semi-stable person... the first stable man... I've ever had onboard this ship."

Hunh, I woulda thought Enya was before her time. And it sounds like she gave quiet the performance too. Definitely a shame I missed it. Ah, good, she's moving too. With my free hand, I reach to gently pluck the other electrode out from her pink hair, "I'm not one to judge my own... stability, but I'm happy to have such a... special status with you." Cheesy, yeah, but close enough to the point. And I don't think she cares about eloquence.

There's pretty much no more space between us; I can feel my jacket and shirt brush lighty against the fabric of her sweater and that scent of machines, electronics, and her dominates my sense of smell. I lean my head in closer to hers with a soft but inviting smile, "And you're the most interesting... and enticing woman I've met in a very long time, Sakura..." We're barely inches apart, and I'd love to have nothing beween us instead, but it's her house and her lips to give.

When was the last time you felt like this, Sakurako? Oh yes... At the Pow Wow... Ronin took your virginity away, then sent you to the four winds without a goodbye... You're showing him around like he's some sort of surrogate...

Sakurako is brought back for a moment on that thought. Nothing of Sam was putting off such of anything to even Remind her of Ronin...

To HELL that mercenary. He don't know what he's missing!

She Grabs Sam, and with one forceful, aggressive, passionate motion, she practically smothers Sam with a kiss. When she opens her eyes, and looks ino his, he can tell what is going through her mind on body language alone.

This is MY ship, but this is OUR night. I think you proved to me something. You wanted MY permission, Sam... It is granted. Do what you will...

Sakurako's expression takes an almost playful demeanor at this point, seeing what Sam's response is before releasing the kiss.

You've passed the test... What did you bring for me?

Damn, it's like someone flipped a switch in this woman. Hey, not that I'm complaining; I knew she wanted something like this and I sure as hell do too. I can see the playfulness flash over her expression and I give her a taunting grin of approval when she pulls back. For a moment, I don't feel quite so old. She's a young woman, that's for sure, and she's got some kind of interest in me. Yeah, I'm old enough to be her father or grandfather but she's attractive as hell and she's sharing the desire. Fuck fountains of youth, this is all you'd ever need.

So... she wants this too, eh? Alright, let's start having some fun. I reach around her small waist and hips, making sure she's up close, "Maybe there's one last room you need to show me, Sakura." Her kiss was aggressive and driven; mine is full of passion too but it's focused on drawing out and sharing our pleasure. "Because," I quietly say once our lips part again, "We need a more comfortable place to have desert." Oh, who the fuck am I kidding: she's probably got an inflatable pink mattress in every room.

Sakurako moves in closer, softening, but still showing her intent.

"Hmm... I have many comfortable places. I'm not sure what would be your pleasure though... My personal quarters is not among that list at the moment, but I have many places where we could share some private time. Perhaps in ways... unique... to what you may think."

She smirks. Should I... No... This is the first time. That fantasy isn't an opener... Although the thought of increased privacy... And the pool is heated...

"I have a certain place in mind. Plenty of room, and a way to give us a level of intamacy based on simple confines. Nothing unusual or improper, but it is... novel. And, it decreases the chance of any... prying eyes. You never can tell if the little shutterbugs outside managed to put in some bugs. I uncovered 28 on the last security sweep I made after a press conference."

Come on... work up the courage She thinks.

"Meet me... At the pool. I'll need to get some more comortable clothes, and a couple things... Then we can share a full dessert. Privately. Intimately."

That last word intimately she says with anticipation.

With a final kiss, she heads out of the room they were in. "Just follow the signage on the ship. I'll be waiting..."

Cameras? Heh, I'd think she'd be better at finding those sort of things. But, some people are rather ingenious and she's rather popular. And I like that privacy idea; this isn't the sort of thing I like to share with others.

"I'll make sure you have enough time," I reply coyly, watching her walk past the bulkhead and out of the room. That little sway in her hips as she walks... damn, she's got me thinking about whatever surprises she's got waiting for me. Don't get too excited, old man, there's still a whole night to enjoy. She's already surprised me on a few levels, damn pleasant ones too, and I'm looking forward to what's next.

Alright, time for me to take an easy pace and let her get ready. I look about the room one last time, seeing the countless compartments filled with carefully crafted garments and costumes. Hmm, looks like a lot of this stuff is from those cartoons she likes so much. It's obvious she's been inspired by all of those old shows... but was her eruption shaped by that fandom or did she work with what she got? Shit, I know I didn't expect or idolize what I got, though I won't complain one bit about it. It's fucking nice to be able to drink and smoke.

The bulkhead automatically slides shut once I leave the room and those ubiquitous monitors have already started directing me towards the pool. Now that would've been a nice feature to have when getting on a ship for the first time. A pool, eh? She's definitely taken the time to personalize and soften the ship to her tastes. I'd love to take a look around right now but there's a lady waiting for me and I'd much rather see her than a ship. Hey, you tell me which one you'd like to go see: a hitech ship or a beautiful woman who wants to share an intimate dessert?

Goddamn this carpet would be nice to have on chilly mornings; metal plating is not nice on warm feet. The monitors say it should be just around the corner here, tucked away inside the ship. I wonder how she deals with the ballast of it and keeping it from damaging the surrounding structure... nah, don't worry about that. She'll proudly tell me with that cute smile and it really doesn't matter because she has yet to sink the ship. The bulkhead door snaps open without any effort on my part and I walk inside to see what my Sakura has waiting for me...

Sakurako hurriedly runs to her quarters, the doors slide shut quicky.

"Oh man, oh man, oh man..."

Sakurako starts moving some stacked boxes that were blocking a storage closet.

"I hope the prototype is here... In the mean time..."

Sakurako closes her eyes, and security sweeps the pool area using a scanner in the section where the pool is located.

Calm down, Sakurako... He's waiting for you, just look to see if a novel isolation method is necessary... ... ... Damn. 4 cameras. I thought I caught them all. I need to restrect my receptions to ABOVE-DECK affairs... Let's see... only video feeds, good.

She opens her eyes.

"I hope I don't scare him off."

She finds what she was looking for, a white cannister, about 3 feet in legnth and about two feet in diameter.

"Now to change clothing."

She sets the canister on it's side, standing it up, then rummages for some different... comortable... and hopefully easily accessed cothing.

"It's old, but it'll do."

She grabs a tan colored swimsuit from the closet and starts changing. She opens a speaker connection to the pool room.

"Sam... I'll be there in a minute."

Then with another thought, blocks the cameras with a slight jamming signal, on the wireless frequency, surrounding the entire ship in a halo of anti wireless static.

She smooths out the wrinkles on the polymer-material swimsuit, after zipping it up from the back. It compliments her every form.

"Well... time to test him out..."

She grabs the canister and walks to the pool room, her legs weak with part anticipation and part dread.

He's going to fashion me a weirdo... I know it...

This thought crosses her mind as she walks into the pool room.

"Well... time to get cozy for the evening. And, this is how I'll guarantee our privacy..."

A minute more to myself, eh? Hmmm, I wonder what she's working on... Couldn't be too many other things she'd need and I don't think she'd be the type to ransack a closet looking for "just the right top." 'course, I could be wrong; she might care about all those frilly things and fashion.

It's odd, isn't it? She's gone through all this work to keep water out of the ship just to put a large pool smack in the middle of it. Not that I can blame her, water can be a downright relaxing thing. Light reflexing from the surface of the water plays across the walls of the room in that ubiquitous pattern you'll find anywhere there's a large amount of indoor water and I calmly take a few paces to inspect the room. Indeed, she does have a significant technical ability. Yet she's clever enough to mimic fictional fashions... nah, I'm not gonna worry about the odd pairings of things.

I hear the door shut and her voice and I know I'm definitely not going to worry about anything else when I see her. I stroll back across the room to her and I'm sure my body is subconsciously stalking more than walking, "Now wouldn't be the best time to tell you I didn't bring a swinsuit, eh?" Her suit, though... she's definitely not a kid, it's pretty clear she knows it too, and it just makes me want to see more.

Once I'm close to her again I take a look at the canister in her arms, "I take it that has something to do with our... privacy?"

Sakurako smiles, blushing brighter than before.

"Indeed. It's a prototype all-purpose tent-dome I came up with. Not only does it work well on land, it is a capable raft. I don't do this very often, if at all. I use this pool more to test out various aquatic gear and different designs. This pool is large enough for small-scale hydrodynamic testing. But beyond that..."

Sakurako throws the cannister into the water, and it starts to inflate.

"Occasionally, if I want to catch a good night's sleep while things onboard are in disarray, I just drain the pool and sleep in the dome. But sometimes, I sleep better with the gentle sway of the pool's water. The dome itself is closed, and there are 3 cameras watching us right now. No audio feeds though. I'll take care of them in the morning. They pose no threat. And, being in a 9 foot diameter opaque dome is sorta hard to see through."

Indeed, as the last ribs inflate on the dome, and the side air cells inflate at the bottom, it indeed looks like a white bubble on the water.

"The floor is cushioned, so we should be comfortable. If you need something to keep you dry getting in, I do keep spare wet-suits on hand in a locker over there..." She points to a light blue locker built into the wall. "I usually keep them there for visitors who are sort of bad swimmers... or for those that forget swimsuits."

She jumps into the pool, and bobs up.

"Not to say you aren't a bad swimmer, but the material of the suits have a thin layer of air. I've yet to see someone able to actually go under water for more than a few seconds wearing one of them. Don't worry, you won't look like the michelin man. Might enhance your body's frame a bit. Only a little... Then again, you could just jump right in after stripping down..."

She downcasts her gaze. If her swimsuit wasn't naturally bouyant, she dive about now to keep from having her rosy cheeks signal ships from 50 miles away. She swims to her dome and unzips a side panel and starts to climb in.

"Umm... it's your call." She smiles, and then slinks the last bit of herself into the dome.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god... Did I just say that stuff... Strip down and jump in... I left myself wide open there... wait... isn't getting... natural what we're shooting for?

She smacks herself in the head a few times.

Stupid, stupid, STUPID! I've gotten this far... On my own merit. Come one kiddo, you can take this to the End of File...

Heh, she's embarrassed or excited... I gotta say she somehow makes it look cute. Goddamn is she an odd collection of things. She's got that inherent cuteness, that big ol' brain for tech, and a body that makes me think every dirty thought in the book. Especially when she looks at me like that and slinks her body like that into the dome, makes me think about all of those naughty things we can do together when she's moving like that. As long as she wants to do those things too, eh?

Three cameras that she's already disabled? Damn, I thought she was a little tighter on security... I could give her some tips with that, might even make the kind of pillow talk she'd like. Fuck me, I never thought I'd be talking about that for pillow talk... shit, best not to think about that; this ain't the sort of thing you plan out. Unless you're making up the ol' "I've got a meeting tomorrow" excuse, which isn't the case tonight.

Right, time to get this party started. Hmm, fuck the swimsuit: stuff that makes you float makes it a real fucking bitch to swim properly. Not that I'm going to be swimming a whole lot tonight but that part even bugged me while doing my training back as a pleb. Finding a place where the water won't splash up, I calmly and quickly slide out of my trusty suit and shoes, leaving behind a friend or two in the pile. Not my closest friends, she'd want to play with them all night.

Down to my birthday suit, I dive into the water, thanking my personal god she at least keeps the damn thing heated. You know, I really miss swimming sometimes... shit, I miss doing a lot of things for plain ol' recreation's sake. Keeping my old body streamlined, I take a few kicks underwater and push myself up to the door at the side of the dome before my head pops back to the surface. I can see her just inside of the dome through the opening, goddamn is that inviting, and I have to say I'm still impressed with what she's done. What can I say: I'm attracted to her body and her intelligence.

Alright, time to help her get to that last bit of comfort. Keeping my body in the water, I rest my arms and chin on the foot of the entrance to the dome and motion to her with one hand while smiling, "Come here, Sakura... it's alright, you don't have to be embarrassed... little closer..." Once she's moved on the floor to be close, I lift myself up enough to draw her into a long, passionate kiss, sliding one hand up across the side of her neck to work my fingers into that pink hair where her head meets the back of her neck. The cake and ice cream are gone now... heh, she does have a bit of an electrical taste.

Once our lips part I lock on her pink eyes, making sure she sees my sincerity, "Don't be nervous, Sakura; you have me, for whatever you want. Conversation, snuggling, or lovemaking; I'd love to do any of those with you for the rest of tonight and as far into the coming days as you want. So don't be nervous; I'm not going to run away." I ain't lyin'; if she wants me around then i'm stickin' around.

My legs slowly swirl in the water, holding me in place as I keep focused on her, "Now, I gotta be honest; that third option is my favorite... I very much like the idea of us being Sam-chan and Sakura-chan together, and I don't mean that in the cutesy sense either... like I told you at dinner: I'm yours tonight, including your most intimate lover..."

At this point, Sakurako knows what is up. The hormones are taking over. It is very odd at that, even when a Nova's metabolism and chemistry should negate the hormone cascades in the brain that regulate emotion, the mating instinct, and the emotion that confuses it all... love... Somehow Love finds a way.

There is something about Sam, Sakurako cannot quite place the thing. Perhaps it is his demeanor, perhaps it is his youthful energy contained in a mature body... Who knows. But Sakurako feels, even more than her last sojurn at this level of intimacy, that her energy will not be overloading to Sam. She pulls him in. After passionately locking lips then saying "Why choose, we can have all three, Sam-kun. But it seems..." She pulls Sam unto his back, out of the water. Her hands feel the wetness of his legs, and she caresses his body, up to the chest. "I think the third option will be the choice of the evening for now..."

She kisses him, after straddling his waist. Not a quick peck, or a genuine 20 minute lock, but a perfectly placed one. She pivots her head, and changes positions with the kiss. Passionately increasing her interest.

"While I have done this before... it is the first time like this..." She nuzzles him, kissing him in the cheek, as she lays her belly unto his. It feels like a warm beach ball, wet, taught, sitting on his skin. "How about... I have you do the honors? The zipper is on the back..."

She knows what is coming next. She's face to face now with Sam. She can feel his breath as he feels her's. There is no lighting, so she cannot see the color of Sam's eyes, but a slight gleam from outside glints, revealing a universe. Hers on the other hand are a bright pink, and glow with the energy of a nova, ever so slightly. She reaches with her left foot, and closes the zipper on the door-flap, and tiny-little lights start to flicker on. Keeping a low, candle-light atmosphere.

"Or, I could do it, if you're afraid you might damage the swimsuit..." She almost wants to do it, she wants to quicken him, she will not refuse tonight, and he now has to be close.

"Your choice." She says, after a tiny peck on the cheek.

She's right; that rocking motion of the water is soothing. Motherfucker, I never thought I'd be comforted by that feeling again. And while I've got a beautiful woman on top of me? A strange night indeed with my Sakura. The damn woman even made me want to watch that old British show again, geez.

Wow, damn, alright, now I'm sure she's as into this as I am. I wrap an arm around her, finding the zipper and slowly pulling it down to open her swimsuit, "I think I've got a handle on it, Sakura-chan." Damn right I do; I've been waiting to do this since the moment I saw her in the suit. With a gentle tug, I pull back the polymer to slowly expose her skin to our private little space on her ship. "We've got plenty of time for all of your first times," I whisper to her before drawing her into another kiss and everything else the night holds.

You know... some days, it's good to be a nova.

This must be... what it is like to truely give yourself up. The moment. The event. The very occurance is all that is, what was, and what will be. Samuel... You did not come to conquer me, you've come to free me. To unite with me. Forget the childish games, forget the past. I needed this. Something to free me. Something to give me not just a purpose, but a drive. This isn't a matter of fact occasion. With Ronin, it seemed he was the predator, and I'm the prey... here... god... I never knew I actually could do this on my own... but Sam... This was only a meeting, a chance gathering. Within that time I've grown to understand you.

A flash of emotion moves through her.

Sam... The first time I've ever truely loved outside of lust, outside of some childish desire to have a trophy, is now. I...

It is odd, the Nova. It is generally known that their endurance may far exceed that of any baseline individual. One would think that it would be an impossible task to stimulate a nova for any reason, but there are receptors, like a normal human being, that still function as designed.

I... Sam.. I... Please...

Generally, the reactions of a Nova to such stimuli would be to an extreme, since a Nova in of themselves need enhanced stimuli to experience the same things as a baseline. But, it depends on the Nova.

Saaaaaam...

There is a quiet in the pool room, but the bubble moves... quietly.





Novas are known for stamina. Sakurako and Sam are prime examples. But even Novas require the closeness of their companions, even after proving what they will share between themselves.

Sakurako awakens. She lays next to Sam, still facing him. She had put back on her swimsuit after the night's desserts.

Sam... Don't wake up yet... I just...

She holds unto him, and quietly sobs.

Please, when you do... don't leave right away... I... Want this to last... I know... I love you, Sam...

She indeed doesn't want him to leave. Sakurako knows who she loves, truely, for the first time.

Hey, that's another thing I like about being a nova: not always needing to sleep. That means I get to finish a lot of fucking work, way more than ever before I erupted, which can be real nice... but that makes sleep a luxury I don't get to provide myself all too often. So, if I get a chance, I take it. And sharing my sleep with someone after sharing a whole night of pleasure together... yeah, that makes it better.

Hmm, the rolling motion doesn't wake me up, it hasn't since Hendrix was alive, and the sound of the water lapping against the raft doesn't do it either; it's the sound of her next to me. By her... crying? Fuck me, I'm not that out of practice, am I?! My eyes slowly open with a few blinks, and I reach up to gently push her pink hair behind an ear as I lift my head to look at her, "Hi there... I didn't say something horrible in my sleep or somethin', did I?"

"N...No... I..." She sobs, sniffling back, trying to clear her sinuses enough to talk without sounding like kermit the frog.

"I... It's childish, Sam... I..."

Sakurako is too ashamed to speak. Could she have gotten attached?

"I was afraid you'd... leave right away. I... Want you to stay for a while longer..." She hugs Sam, still laying next to her.

"I... Get lonely here. I really don't have any attachments to anyone in Japan anymore. Everyone's either a colleague, client, or aquaintance. And Long and Timeslip are out on their Honeymoon. I check on their house on occasion, but even their residence brings back memories of being with them..."

She sighs.

"I'm alone, in my homeland, and everywhere I go... Ever since... He left me."

Yeeep, she's still hurt over that guy and it's tainting what she wanted to share with me. Hmm, this guy definitely ran away from any kind of commitment and hurt her something fierce. Come on, old man, make her feel better. I pull her up a little closer so our eyes are at the same level, "Sakura, I'm not gonna to roll over and walk out on you." I reach over and carefully brush away a tear and giver her a quick and tender kiss, "I can't stay here forever, but I sure can stay around long enough for you to build up some bank for when I'm gone... and we didn't say we can't visit again in the future, right?" Hey, she does have interesting conversations with me and shares some of the same tastes... and, yes, her ass and body doesn't quit either, so my brain and inner dirty-old-man are both satisfied.

I smile, trying to keep her on happy thoughts, and give her a playful tap on her nose with a finger, "So, how can I help you not feel so lonely, Sakura?"

Sakurako caresses his face with her right hand. "How about some breakfast first?" She smiles, while sniffling a bit.

"I'm... sorry... Every time I... well... I get sort of emotional... Must be the stimulus."

She laughs, embarrassed. "Happened the same way the first time."

She slides over to the side flap and opens it.

"I'm sure you're an Eggs and Ham person, right Sam? Or are you the one spoken of in that one children's book? Oh, and don't worry, it won't be green."

Good, good, she's getting back to happiness. I roll my body over to move up next to her by the flap, "Eggs and ham sounds great and I won't rhyme unless you ask." Hmm, I'm still running around without clothes... and she hasn't begun to blush again, which means she's getting comfortable with me... definitely a good thing.

But breakfast, I like the sound of that to start. "Ladies first," I say with a smile while pulling the flap aside to expose the pool. Wait, I should do something first... I reach over to stop her from leaving just yet, absently sliding my hand from her shoulder and down to her hip, "Don't worry about the emotion... I liked that kind of stimulus and I hoped you had too..."

She lovingly smiles. "Yeah. So did I."

Sakurako slips over the side, and bobs in the pool for a moment.

"Want me to pull this over to the poolside and grab your clothes and throw them into the dome? So you can dress privately?"

She crosses her arms on the edge at the opening. Resting her head on the rings encircling the dome's bottom. Slightly going in, as she puts a little weight on it.

"Either way is fine by me."

She looks down at her swimsuit, at her chest.

"Jeeze, I should adjust the air bladders in this thing. My bust line is almost... cartoonish, when I'm floating like this. I'm not in the ocean for crying out loud..."

Privately? Now that is thoughtful of her, isn't it? I smile at her as she bobs in front of me, "Nah, I can swim over and just get dressed. But thanks." I scoot a bit further along the bottom of the dome, getting ready to just about slip in, "Besides; you did get to see and touch every little bit of me... I don't mind continuing to share." Look at that, a coy smile from her instead of a blush... Oh, I like this, her being this comfortable with me... I like it a lot.

The heated water, thank fucking god it's heated, feels just right when I finally slide back into the pool. Ok, I admit it: I could get used to having this nearby every day. I take a quick look down at her chest and look back up at her with a grin, "Heh, yeah, it does... enhance things a bit." I give her a wink and a playful tap against her foot with mine before kicking away, "Not you need enhancement."

Ok, get some clothes, get some food... shit, I really feel like a smoke. I don't have a problem swimming back to the edge and I pull myself out without much effort. Where did I... ah, right were I always have it. Shaking the loose water off my hands, I pull out my Zippo and a pack of Luckies, pausing to look back to her, "Oh, sorry, Sakura... do you mind if I satisfy an old habit?"

Sakurako bobs up and down in the water looking Sam over.

Doesn't need enhancement huh? Well... why did I pick this silly thing anyways... Oh yeah, first thing I grabbed. I just hope he doesn't think anything I give him might embarass him. I know he runs in different circles than I. Of course, I'm not exactly... normal... if you can call a Nova that. Then again, now I know why I like Sam... He's direct. His honesty is something I've always wanted. I know, just like heat, fuel and air make fire; that people are going to say "oh, he's too old for me"... bullocks. He's perfect. Now that I think of it, I prefer someone who doesn't act all mister mysterioso around me...

"Go ahead. The ventilation systems are on. I don't object, but tobacco smoke stinks, and it's a stink I have a hard time getting out. Although here... I don't care. Just... don't smoke in my clean-room labs? Just an advanced warning on later visits."

Jeeze Sakurako... Any more direct?

Sakurako swims over to the edge.

"Just so that it's on... good faith... Mind if I bum a cigarette? I've... always wanted to try it once."

"Yeah... that should do it... Keep him feeling welcome..."

She leans on the edge of the pool, arms crossed in front of her, watching Sam start to get dressed. Now that she knows what he looks like, she can appreciate more his form under his clothing.

Heh, there is a bit normality in her: she doesn't like the smell of smoke. I could chalk that up to her being a product of her generation, throwing away all of this body-destroying vices me and my parents enjoy, but it really don't matter. "Don't worry," I smile at her with the unlit Lucky parked between my lips, "I know all about not smokin' in certain places." A metallic plink, a rough flint-and-metal flick, and a familiar crinkle all lead me to that bliss of the first cigarette of the day. I really coulda used one before we'd slept but that was her moment. That and I woulda filled up the dome with smoke.

Fuck me, she wants to try one? I shrug at her odd request and crouch down next to the edge of the pool to give her the Lucky I just lit, "It's unfiltered so take it slow at first... and don't try to draw it all into your lungs or you're gonna end up hacking all over the place." Now I do feel like a dirty old man: I'm crouching down, naked, to hand the young woman I just slept with her first cigarette... yep, time to get dressed. "Ok, towels," I half mutter to myself while standing back up, almost immediately seeing the clearly marked hatch, "Ah, there we are... and nice job with the labels."

Towel in hand, I get back to my clothes, producing and lighting another Lucky for myself, and I start to dry off and get dressed. The sound of rustling clothes mixes seamlessly with the crinkle of burning tobacco and paper as I go through my very practiced motions of dressing while smoking. It's an acquired and difficult skill, but my vices thank me for it. Fully clothed and wrapped up in a haze of smoke again, I grin down to my floating partner in the water with familiar playfulness, "So do I get to see the galley this time or are you wanting breakfast here... or are you thinking of enticing me to stay with old television episodes?"

"Why, thank you. I try to keep things properly organized for visitors." She says as she takes a quick, shallow puff of the cigarette. An unexpectedly light cough follows. "ahem... Uh, not what I expected..."

She takes a couple longer draws off of the aformentioned cancer-stick. Only yielding a cough that would best be described as weak.

"Uh... I guess my body can take it..." She sniffs. "But... I do not like the smell." She wets her fingers, and extinguishes the cigarette. "I only doused the very tip. Wouldn't want you to waste it. I hear they're expensive."

She gives the cigarette back, and climbs out of the pool. Then grabs a towel. As she bends over, she looks at SAm from between her legs, as he draws another puff.

God he's gorgeous. Like some sort of rugged... gaijin movie star. He's well built for his age...

As she reaches for a towel, she leans over a seperate bin, and hears a click.

Eh? What's... A rush of air follows, and now, Sakurako looks like she's wearing a beach ball around her chest and mid-section.

She falls over, unto her rear, embarrassed into a blush. "Umm... that actually isn't supposed to do that..." She reaches around to the valve that the small cartridge was attached to, and notices the valve control broke. "No wonder I put this away... it was a failed prototype."

She affords herself a weak laugh. "Well, let's get on to breakfast. I'll meet you at the galley. After I... stop looking like I'm wearing a beach-ball... I have all of the foods you'd like. You know... I'd like to see how you'd cook."

She grabs a towel from the ground and slowly gets herself up with some leverage.

"After all, it's all about curiousity." She says, as she reaches around for the air dump on the back. It makes a hideous sound like a bloon's mouth being stretched wide. Sakurako winces like she's hearing a drill as she releases the air. "Um... sorry."

God, today's gonna be a bad day...

Eh, she didn't like the cigarette. Nuttin' wrong with that, just means more of them for me to smoke and I don't mind cornering the market. "Most people don't," I say with a shrug, taking back the put out stick with a smile, "I'm a bit of an old fogey for still smoking. And thanks for forethought, means a lot to me." I'll have to trim off the end; the chlorine from the water might've soaked in where she put it out. I don't like my poisons that potent.

I take another drag from my Lucky, being sure I don't blow it at her, and I lean easily against the bulkhead as she gets out of the pool. It's interesting to watch her move. Sometimes she's got such grace and it's obvious she's got the ability to do little tiny things but other times she seems to be klutzy. I catch her glimpse of me from between her legs just before she goes back to grabbing a towel. And then, sometimes, she reminds me she's very much a woman, especially when she moves like that...

And, finally, her suit catches up with her. Ok, I admit it, it looks pretty damn funny. You know, I think this happens when she's focusing too much, like minor disasters are waiting for her when she's not looking. Heh, damndest thing is that it's part of her charm, makes her more average as opposed to some kind of wunderkind or something... 'course, I might be saying that after she lights my hair on fire or turns my skin purple for a week or somethin' like that.

I walk over and reach down to help her finish getting up, "Hey, it looks like the suit was working great before, flattering and functional." Eh, she's probably embarrassed enough here... and that release value ain't helping either. "Getting to the galley won't be a problem for me if it's as well marked as the pool," I say with a flash in my eyes, "And you'd better go change before I decide to help you..."

"Don't worry, Sam, I will."

Flattering and functional... bah... I bet he thinks I'm going to light his hair on fire by accident or turn his hair pink or something.

She starts to head out a side door to the outer halls, heading back to her quarters. The relief valve now not making as loud of a racket.

So... what to wear...

As she rummages around, she grabs a favorite sailor collared blouse, and a pair of loose-fitting, white cargo-pants. She struggles a bit to get the still half-inflated swimsuit off and tosses it to her bed, which is stacked with books, boxes, and assorted junk. Letting it hiss it's last. After slipping on a pair of sandals she walks back to the galley. She closes her eyes, and says over the coms "Sam, I'll be there in about 5 minutes."

As she walks she looks out a bulkhead window, it's not quite mid-morning yet, the sun is of yet to clear the buildings on the horizon.

I wonder how well Sam cooks...

She thin