JaeYou struggle to piece together your fragmented memories of last night's carousing. For some reason, you can clearly recall the ingratiating looks of the wardens as they tried to persuade you to stop, the cries of the beggars to whom you gave an obscene amount of alms, and the stamping of the servitor that you rode around the station to Jae's unconcealed glee.
YOU"How did the night end?"
Jae"I don't remember all of it. I think... We shot at some people. Over their heads. Someone didn't offer us the required amount of respect. Then you said that flying a shuttle was easy and that you would bet your Warrant that you could get us to the ship. We also stripped a man and burnt his clothes because the sight of them offended the Exalted One... I can still smell the singed fibres now."
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"
Jae"I helped you get back to your quarters and then I couldn't find the door to get out again. And you graciously gave up... thirty-five percent of your bed for me... Yes, I think that's the number our haggling ended on."
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"
JaeTurning her remarkably fresh-looking face to you, Jae smirks. "You don't remember anything at all, shereen? Neither do I. All the better. What sweet and thrilling scenarios we can imagine to fill in the gaps."
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."
Jae"I'm sorry to say you're right, shereen. No matter how soft the bed or how pleasant the company, there is a line we must not cross. And I am perilously close to doing exactly that by getting a couple of bottles of delicious medicine for our aching heads."
Jae"By the way... There is one thing I remember about yesterday. You, shereen, wanted to know what kinds of gifts it is customary to give to girls on Efreet. You never heard the answer — the wind of sleep had already whisked you away. But weapons, valuables, and loyalty — that's what girls are given on my world." Winking playfully in farewell, Jae gives you a dazzling smile.
end of branch
JaeLapsing into quiet laughter, Jae replies gently, "No, shereen. Your conduct was entirely becoming of a Rogue Trader."
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above
JaeYou can smell it too, and you feel slight burn marks on your fingers. You notice one more thing — your lips feel rough and dry, like they have been nipped over and over by another's teeth.
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 3
JaeYour memories have been split into tiny fragments that your mind mercifully refuses to reassemble into a clear picture of the scandalous events of last night.
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 3
JaeThoughts tumble violently inside your head, periodically ricocheting off the inside of your skull and triggering bursts of piercing pain. Your tongue feels desiccated and shrivelled in your mouth, and it scrapes painfully against your teeth. Light... Light is the enemy.
JaeSelf-awareness returns unbidden, bringing with it an inexplicable sense of awkwardness. Your beleaguered body violently protests against the very idea of getting out of your soft bed.
JaeYou hear a soft sigh beside you. Looking over, you see dark hair fanned out across your pillow. Jae, who is cosied up next to you fast asleep, is fully dressed — just as you are. Or perhaps she is not asleep at all. "Shereen... You certainly know how to have a good time."
YOU"How did the night end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Try to remember the end of the party]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How did you end up in my chambers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You and I... We did not fall into bed together just to sleep, did we?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We need to make ourselves presentable."continues where this line first appears above