Bloody power converters! (MM, D4)

[Djanik]

When he opened his eyes, and she was gone, for a moment he wondered if he had offended her.

Then he thought about it, and decided she had probably decided to do something while he pondered.

Grabbing the hyrdo-spanner, he finished tightening down the access panel he'd been working on, and then scooted out of the main generator, getting back onto his feet and stretching.

Walking out, onto the gantry, he paused as he saw her cleaning off the engine.

An involuntary smile crept over his face, and he was sure he looked a fool.

Giving himself a little shake, to try compose himself, he approached, footsteps ringing on the metal gantry.

He hoped his idea wasn't... too stupid.

"I've given it some thought - I'm not sure I'm naming it quite right, but the translation into Basic was bound to lose something..."

Resting one hand on the side of the horizontal engine pylon, he offered, "What if you called it the Reclaimed Freedom? After all, isn't the purpose of the ship not just to haul freight, but to give the owner freedom to go where they choose?"

Rubbing the back of his head, he mulled over his words, "And for a memory name, you found the ship while we were salvaging... or reclaiming things that were lost."

With a wry grin, he added, "I really couldn't think of a clan name for the ship though."

[Elaranu]

She tirned, stopping what she was doing as she listened. Her arms crossed under her chest as he wrapped up, her lips pursed, "A clan name would be inappropriate no matter how I cut it anyways; This would be a nickname, an outsider name of sorts but not wrapped up in all the necessities. Still, I get where you are coming from. As to your specific suggestions... maybe such a thing would feel more correct once I am free. I myself still feel quite shackled, even with my own ship."

[Djanik]

He tapped his chin.

"Then Recovering Hope?"

That was a name which implied something coming, but not yet come.

With a helpless little shrug, he added, "I'm just a pilot - not a poet."

[Elaranu]

She gave a soft smile, "That is fine; I do not need you to be a poet. But Hope is a good word, I think. Perhaps "New Hope". It has a sort of ring to it, does it not?"

[Djanik]

"Renewed Hope... new Hope..."

He nodded. "It has a certain ring."

[Elaranu]

"Well, unlike 'Renewed Hope' or 'Recovering Hope', it does not imply a time line. Or a loss; A new hope can be there no matter where or when or how things are going."

[Djanik]

"Yes, that's very true."

He nodded.

"The New Hope - it's easy to say. Easier than... well, that transponder code."

[Elaranu]

"Not for me; Is confusing. But it is acceptable, nevertheless. Especially if it is easier for others. Myself, I am not knowing about the ringings to things and poetic stuff."

[Djanik]

"Do Chiss not enjoy the arts as we practice them in the core?"

He looked surprised.

"Comedy, romance... music and holo-movies?"

[Elaranu]

"There is holomovies and such, yes. Of all sorts. I do not know how it compares to what they have in Core Worlds though; They call Chiss space 'Unknown Region' out there, and Ascendency would like it kept that way. So outside media is not exactly abundant."

[Djanik]

(Somehow lost this one)

"Ah, interesting..."

Leaning against the gantry railing, he looked her way with a wry smile, "So, are there any you personally prefer?"

[Elaranu]

"What, holomovies, or shows? I cannot say I am much of a water of either, though I do listen to a lot of long range audio transmissions. While flying and or working."

[Djanik]

Resting back on his elbows, against the railing, he appreciated the scene, the ship, the garage... her.

"What about? Just technical things, or do Chiss do romance or adventure?"

[Elaranu]

"There are Chiss romantics, of course. I am not much of one, not myself. I tend to listen to a lot of music instead. I liked are'po back home, but I will admit I have become quite fond of this jizz stuff since I have come out here. I have developed a taste for it, I think is saying. Quite fun to dance to."

She smiled softly as she remembered a particular favorite song.

[Djanik]

Djanik nodded. "I'm more of a generator metal guy, but I like a lot of music."

Glancing at Elaranu, he noted her smile. "Any particular favorites?"

[Elaranu]

She checked off her fingers, "Let us see... 'Bo Rydell and the Bebop Boys', 'The Galaxy Gals Jizz Band', 'The Max Rebo Band', 'Smooth Wookies', and of course 'The Dark Side of the Jizz Ensemble'."

[Djanik]

He nodded, and then inquired, "And which one drew that smile earlier?"

[Elaranu]

"Oh, that? ...well, back home, as I say, we did not get much outside media. But there was a pawn shop of sorts, nearby to academy. It had a holodisc of The Galactic Gals. I remember putting in wireless earbuds when I was not interested in lecture, my own little rebellion there I suppose. Helped me not to fall asleep sometimes."

[Djanik]

With a smile, he nodded. "So even amid your studious nature, you've had your own little flare of freedom."

Crossing his arms, he added, "For me it was the Clay Starships, they had a tone that was just the right balance of rebellion and adventure - without being too much."

Pushing off the gantry, he scooped up the hydro spanner, crossing to the engine she had been working on, to start attaching the thrust baffles - fiddly, boring work.

Now that he was closer, he added, quietly, "So, do Chiss go on dates? Or is it an arranged thing?"

[Elaranu]

"I..."

She stopped as she considered the question, standing up and looking out into the shop as he started working on the thrust baffles.

"Dates? You mean, like romantic outings? I do not see why we would not. Arranged marriages do happen sometimes I suppose, but that is only with certain special situations. The only case you be limited in marrying who you would want to otherwise would be anything with inheritable conditions."

[Djanik]

"Ah."

He gave her a thoughtful look. "There's a great deal I don't know about you - and a great deal I'd like to learn."

Cranking down another bolt, he added, in a serious tone, "Some about your people, and some about you."

A small shrug, "For instance, if such topics interest you in the first place."

[Elaranu]

Turning back to him, she walked over and sat down behind him, watching from her sitting position, "Interested in learning about people? I find such things interesting, yes yes. I did not major in alien studies or sociology at academy or anything, but I study such things in my off time. I will admit, I had not even heard of the Pantolans before I came here to Bankor. A big universe, with many different peoples."

[Djanik]

He laughed under his breath and turned, leaning against the engine and tapping the hydrospanner against his leg. You won't make this easy for me... and I can't be sure if it is even intentional...

"And what about romance? Is that a topic which interests you?"

[Elaranu]

"Ah..."

She sat back off the balls of her feet so she was sitting on them, seiza style, "Are you doing the coming on to me thing then Mister Djanik?"

Ela asked with a tilt of her head, her expression unchanged from before though. Just a kind of curiosity.

[Djanik]

"I'm on a fact finding expedition, or as the saying goes, I'm fishing for information."

He set down the tool. "I find you fascinating, beautiful, confusing... so yes, I suppose I'm curious if I should try to stamp down this infatuation I feel or indulge it. I appreciate you as a professional and, I hope, a friend, so if I'm alone in this particular feeling, I would rather clear that up now and put it to rest."

Running one hand through his hair, he looked about to say something else, and then he just shrugged, offering a lopsided smile.