The observation gallery remains quiet above the old spin habitat. Beyond reinforced glass, clean outbound lanes thread between docking frames while the station turns beneath the stars.
Lahani
That is almost peaceful. I had forgotten the station could look like anything except a maintenance problem.
A traffic display refreshes without warning. Amber Wing’s delayed departure changes from secured to pending, its departure window held behind an additional systems confirmation.
Lahani
There. The waystation added a review flag. No system is named, and nobody has sent us a request.
The display offers only a timestamp, a berth identifier, and a rotating confirmation code. The route cases remain sealed in Ranuko’s custody below, inside the review alcove.
Lahani
Please let this be paperwork. We earned one quiet delay without another machine demanding our attention.
Lahani
We can watch the lanes a little longer, or go find out what the station thinks it needs. Your call.
“I ask Lahani to request clarification remotely while offering a soft touch to her. "These reviews rarely lead to anything."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Nahuli
These reviews rarely lead to anything.
Nahuli offers Lahani a soft touch, then stays beside her at the glass while she opens the waystation’s remote clarification channel.
Lahani
Waystation control, this is Amber Wing. Please identify the systems confirmation required for our delayed departure.
The traffic display accepts Lahani’s authenticated request. Its timestamp aligns with the berth record, and a concise reply appears without opening either sealed route case.
Lahani
It is a routine berth-power confirmation. The station wants our departure load profile acknowledged before releasing the clean window.
Lahani submits Amber Wing’s already verified load profile through the remote channel. The review flag clears, and the delayed departure returns to secured status.
Lahani
There. Nothing hidden, nothing urgent, and no change to our route. We can keep watching the lanes until the clean slot opens.
“Why watch the lanes when I can spend some time watching you instead?”
Nahuli
Why watch the lanes when I can spend some time watching you instead?
Lahani’s attention leaves the traffic display. Her reddish-pink plumage catches the gallery lights as she turns fully toward Nahuli, the station’s quiet rotation carrying them together.
Lahani
That is a much better use of the delay. The lanes will still be there when we are finished ignoring them.
She steps closer, folding one wing around Nahuli’s shoulders. Beyond the glass, docking lights drift through orderly patterns, but neither of them needs to follow them now.
Lahani
A quiet hour with him is worth more than any perfectly timed departure window.
Lahani
Come on, engineer. You can observe me properly, and I promise not to issue a systems report.
Lahani settles beside him at the glass, close enough that their feathers brush whenever the station turns. The secured departure and sealed route cases can wait below.
“"And you can pilot me as much as you like." I offer Lahani a soft boop to her nose”
Nahuli
And you can pilot me as much as you like.
Nahuli offers Lahani a soft boop to her nose. Her feathers twitch beneath his touch, and the gallery lights catch the pleased tilt of her ears.
Lahani
Careful, engineer. I may take that as authorization for a very thorough flight plan.
Lahani leans closer, her wing settling comfortably around Nahuli as the station rotates. The traffic lanes continue their silent patterns beyond the glass.
Lahani
He makes waiting feel like somewhere I chose to be.
Lahani
No reports, no route margins, and no emergency corrections. Just you, me, and a little time before we bring our ship home.
The observation gallery remains peaceful. Amber Wing’s secured departure waits below, untouched by their respite, while Lahani keeps Nahuli close beneath the turning stars.
“"Hmm, is there a particular destination for the two of us you have in mind then?" I keep the tone playful and teasing.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Nahuli
Hmm, is there a particular destination for the two of us in mind?
Lahani’s ears lift, and she glances toward the station map. A quiet civilian greenhouse ring appears above the old habitat, reached by a short lift ride.
Lahani
Actually, yes. The greenhouse ring has a panoramic bench overlooking the station’s night side. No route displays, no maintenance alarms, and excellent lighting for admiring my copilot.
She books the bench through the gallery terminal. The reservation costs a small leisure fee, charged concretely against their docking allowance, but the confirmation arrives immediately.
Lahani
There. Destination selected, reservation paid, and no systems review attached. We are officially going somewhere for entirely nonessential reasons.
The lift carries them through the rotating spine toward the greenhouse ring. Artificial dawn glows across suspended planters, while Avalon’s distant gas giant fills the curved windows.
Lahani
Come on, engineer. I have a panoramic bench, a little time, and a flight plan that begins with keeping you close.
✓ Quest Accepted
Share a quiet moment with Lahani
“I scoop up Lahani and take her to a quiet part of the greenhouse. "I think I can disable he collision alerts for a good while... if you wish for such."”
SUCCESS (Good Strength, rolled +0)
Nahuli
I think I can disable the collision alerts for a good while, if you wish for such.
Nahuli scoops Lahani up and carries her from the main path into a quiet recess among tall planters. Soft greenhouse light glows across their feathers.
Lahani
I wish for exactly that, provided the alerts stay local to this ring and nothing important gets silenced.
Lahani settles comfortably in his arms while Nahuli reaches the recess. The nearby planter sensors dim their movement prompts, leaving only the gentle ventilation hum.
Lahani
There. No route displays, no maintenance alarms, and no collision warnings interrupting us. Your quiet destination is officially approved.
Lahani
He carries me straight toward peace, and somehow makes a greenhouse feel like our own private deck.
Beyond the curved windows, the gas giant hangs over Avalon’s night side. Inside the secluded greenery, Lahani keeps one wing around Nahuli as the greenhouse continues its calm artificial dawn.
Quest Complete
Share a quiet moment with Lahani