"Thank you for having me." 

She stands and heads out through the portal.

"... so," says Thorn. "How was seeing the family?"

"I feel like I know you a bit better now. Thanks. Into the portal now, or later, for the tattoos? I've gotta finish my workout still."

"... I think before we go anywhere, you should know about the Rose Bowers. Because they're a place we might want to go." 

She takes a breath. "The Rose Bowers are... this is wrong, but it's close and it'll get across the general idea. It's like... a couple's resort hosted on a private demiplane, heavily enchanted to provide convenient everything, ranging from food to furniture to sinflower to... adult toys. It's an environment very optimized for being a couple, if you catch my meaning. And, like a workworld, the demiplane runs fast, so you can have an entire weeklong resort stay and come back within an hour of where you were. It is atrociously expensive, and part of my benefits package. Hannah was basically saying "If you like this girl so much, take her on a real date.""

She runs a hand through her hair. "I think it's... a bit much."

"I was curious about it but wasn't gonna press, she seemed a bit pokey, if that makes sense. That sounds... I get 'atrociously expensive' feeling like a bit much, yeah. And whatever else it does to be so couple-y. It does kind of sound like a bit much. But, I like the sound of it in principle? Sounds exotic and convenient and amazing and relaxing. And if it's part of your benefits, you're not actually paying for it, right?"

"Yeah, I think I want to go there eventually, it just... the idea is a bit overwhelming still, even if it's free to me. I want to... be more intimate with you, before we do that. And explore more, before we step into the deep end of everything any couple on any OTC-contacted world has ever thought of to improve sex and romance."

"It's not like it'd throw really weird and heavy stuff at us constantly, it's gotta be smarter than that. But I get it. We should go on some more normal dates."

"Yeah. I've hardly experienced this world, so hopping to one that's... optimized... seems like it'd take away all the fun scrapes and bangs of learning it the harder way."

"If you're asking for date ideas... We should see the Regent's Pools together. Off the beaten path, a bit dangerous, reputedly beautiful, apparently you have to be in good shape to get to the best ones." Shrug. "Or more conveniently, I think I remember something about a travelling circus setting up in New Winchester this month, but I'd have to check. Or just, shooting or bars or shopping together. Whichever."

She laughs. "We should definitely see the Regent's Pools. Maybe I'll run into the Hooded Guide again. Then again maybe not, I did massively overtip her. It'd be nice to see what's happened since."

"Oh, right! You've already been there. It's a bit out of the way but once we have a nice buffer of Sovereigns, definitely. That's why I bought an Ancient Coin, by the by. It's sort of hard to tell if it's working, though."

"They're like that. I suspect the maps were helped along a little bit, but I only suspect it, I don't know. They do help, in aggregate, enough to matter. And it's a date."

"And in the meanwhile I want to do something today... You've been learning to sing but you're still pretty new at it, right? Hmm, what would you say to seeing a concert or musical and then a nice-ish dinner tonight?"

"That sounds lovely. Musical over concert, I think, if we have the option. It'll be my first."

"I know what I'm doing once we take care of the freedom tattoos and I finish my workout then~ I could see what's on show and do some more grocery shopping and find you again for lunch later."

"Sounds lovely. I'll start putting together my preparations to commission an engine in the meantime?"

"Yep! I should see the one you have in mind this afternoon, maybe."

"I'd better get moving, then. Daylight's burning. - Do you still have that one here? It seems a bit incongruous."

"Yeah. There's still a day and night, all the stars get darker at once for some reason... Rod of freedom tattoos though?"

"Oh, yes. But we'd better do them quickly without much more chatting. Through the portal we go?"

"There's time, we're on a break. But after you."

She walks into the bathroom and out into the OTC's liaison office.

Eva perks up. "You had something else you wanted?"

"I'm looking for Rod of Freedom tattoos for both myself and Lenora."

"That can be done. Do you want them applied manually or flashed on? Manually is cheaper, we pay for your time and pain, but if you're in a hurry..."