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Adventures on the Lost Continent (Midnight Lass x Blood Red Romeo)

“That’s fine with me,” he replied. He also felt a bit bad for the women around him. It was clear that they had endured a surprising amount of harassment from his gender. He did feel a bit guilty for it now. He’d do his best to not come across as if he was trying to hit on them. They deserved that much. “What are your orders, Commander?”
 
"I have a question for Lauren," Bianca insisted, perhaps a little bit perturbed that Lauren had teased her earlier about answering the question. "So how about you, Lauren? How many men have tried to court you?"

"More than I care to think about, but none successful in their attempts," Lauren laughed. "And I believe since Miss Basta decided to extend my locks," Lauren added, running her fingers through her hair, "The courting attempts would have become more frequent and more insistent if the Midnight Curse hadn't provided a safe haven. So I have you to thank, Captain James," she said to Orson with a nod of her hair, "For allowing me a place to try out my small devices, as well as a chance to see the many, large innovations available on your ship." The last was said with a gesture toward the cargo room the six women and Orson were currently occupying.

Saki scooted over and touched Lauren's hair, saying something in Japanese.

"I think she likes your hair," Luna observed.

"I like your hair too, Saki," Lauren replied, touching the Japanese girl's hair. Saki smiled and giggled at the gesture and the use of her name.

"So, Captain," Lauren said, turning her attention to Orson, "My question is, are one of these women that you have kissed and touched in this room?"
 
Oh, now he was feeling targeted. But also kind of excited. He could say anything and if it was bad, he could just blame it on the rules. “Yes,” he replied, smirking in embarrassment. But he didn’t offer more than that.
 
"So the Captain admits that there are multiple women he has kissed and touched, and at least one of them is in this room," Lauren said with a laugh. "So now we need to see who it is!"

"You are evil woman, Lauren," Cristina said with a laugh, "And is not your turn. Is Captain's turn."

"And I'm curious how much energy our emerald has collected," Sabrina remarked.

Lauren picked up the glass encased gem. "Looks like it's a quarter full."

Sabrina nodded. "It looks like this holiday game of yours was a good choice. Lots of positive energy. Captain, your turn."
 
Orson laughed along with them. “If I was a mean man, I’d ask why you’re so concerned with who I’m involved with,” he told her. “But I feel like just going between us wouldn’t be in the spirit of the game. So Cristina,” he said, turning his attention to the nobility amongst them. “Are you engaged or married? I’m not sure how it works with nobility in your country, but I know arranged marriages can be common amongst the upper class.”
 
"I am wishing that Dr. Wilson were here," Cristina began, "As since she is an anthropologist as well as archaeologist, and she might be better suited to answer this question. Let us take the assertion that arranged marriages are common among upper class. In point of fact, across world, arranged marriage is common among all classes. For example, in my own country of Osztrák-Magyar Monarchia, as well as in Russia and Ottoman, marriages often arranged among different ethnic groups, as part of unconscious effort to maintain ethnic identity. Myself, I ethnically identify as Magyar, and arranged marriages were never a tradition of my people, regardless of class or rank."

"But, is interesting to note that in the United States, which has migrant families from across the world, that arranged marriages are common among those migrant families, that arranged marriages are common among those communities that ethnically identify with each other, particularly among those communities who are not far removed from countries of origin. Arranged marriages are alsomcommon among all classes in China as well as in European colonies in central and southeastern Asia."

"So, faulty statement that arranged marriages are common amongst the upper class. But no, I am not engaged or married," Cristina answered.

"My family was descended from stadtholders, and we never had arranged marriages," Luna volunteered. "How about you, Lauren?"

"My grandfather is on the board of Southern Pacific Transportation Company," Lauren answered. "Which is how I got my education to learn how to create some of my devices. He also gave me my seed money to start my business. I'd guess you'd say we were upper class, but we never had a history of arranged marriages. Even the granddaughters who aren't like me...you know, nice and genteel...wouldn't put up with that. How about you, Bianca?"

"Well, my family isn't what you would call upper class," she answered. "We are solidly middle class. My father belonged to the local guild of silversmiths in his home village, before migrating to the island when I was ten. My two older sisters had arranged marriages, but I was originally dedicated to religious service when I was born. I did go do my nursing training at a religious order, but then got further secular training at the University's nursing program. I never was part of any religious order, though."

"I wonder if Saki was engaged," Bianca wondered out loud. "I mean, since she carries a sword, doesn't that make her Japanese nobility or something? I don't know."

Before the conversation could devolve into speculation about Japanese history, Sabrina cut the conversation short. "Captain James, before we go too far afield, are you satisfied with Cristina's answer?"
 
“Ah, yes. My mistake on the assumption, Cristina. Looks like I was also born the poorest,” he joked, trying to remain calm. For him growing up, arranged marriage was something he had learned to associate with wealth and power. Turns out it took years to correct his false assumption. “Yes, I am satisfied. Now, Commander, do your worst.”
 
Cristina stroked her chin in thought, contemplating. She focused her attention on Luna. "Luna, do you prefer Luna or Lucille?" she asked simply.

Luna shrugged. "Well, Luna is what all my friends call me now. Everyone else calls me Miss van Dijk. Except for family, and I'm still Lucille. I suppose I could resent being called Luna, since it's short for Lunatic," she said with a laugh, "But you know what? I helped theorize this room we're sitting in, making it into a reality, so I'm more than happy to be Luna the dreamer of lunatic dreams that I make come true."

As Luna finished, the rooms intercom came on. "Bridge to Captain James."
 
Orson smiles at this, wanting to hear more. He really was learning about his crew in an enjoyable way. But then they were interrupted. He really didn’t want to stop the game, but he moved to the intercom.

“Is there a situation?” he asked. He hadn’t felt much in the way of turbulence, so hopefully Gyro was still working.
 
"No Captain. Just wanted you to know everything is running smoothly on the bridge," Tamra answered. ."But you've been down in the bay for about an hour, and I couldn't help but be curious about your progress."

"We've got about a third of what we need," Lauren shouted at the intercom, holding the encased emerald up.
 
“We’re a third of the way there, at least according to Lauren, so things seem to be proceeding smoothly. We’ll message you if there are any developments,” he said, taking his finger off the intercom. If she didn’t have more for him, he intended to return to the game. After all, it was Luna’s turn. Who knows what sort of crazy question she would come up with.
 
"I have a question for," Luna began, before interrupting herself by observing "Someone wants a nap!"

All eyes turned to Saki, who had given a huge yawn. When she saw everyone looking at her, she covered her mouth and blushed.

"Can't blame her," Lauren observed. "I know her and Miharu have been guarding the ship night and day since...well, since I've come onboard anyway. And that rescue stunt they pulled with my bungee rope---once they came down from their adrenaline rush, they must have been completely drained. Who is that that they rescued anyway, Bianca?" Lauren asked.

"I don't think it's your turn yet, Lauren," Bianca quipped, then winked at Lauren, who couldn't help but laugh.

"Spoke like a true smart aleck," Lauren retorted, before adding, "But seriously, what's her story?"

"Haven't a clue," Bianca answered. "She came to sickbay in a state of shock, but I guess having two angels descending from above to remove you from the fray will do that to you. Doctor Motwani is keeping her calm and secluded for the moment. And we can't even ask Saki why her and Miharu rescued her. Do you know anything more, Captain James?"
 
Orson shook his head. “None. I asked our good doctor to call for me once she thinks our guest is in a good enough condition to speak to me, but not to rush it. I figured speaking to her is my responsibility as Captain,” he explained. “And I imagine she’ll want to figure out what’s going to happen to her.”

“But I do believe Luna had a question,” he said, trying to redirect the conversation to the game. He was worried that not giving the emerald power would cause it to start to weaken, and that would do them no good.
 
As if reading Orson's mind, Lauren turned to Cristina and asked, "Do you think this emerald needs a constant input in order to keep its charge? Like a battery?"

Cristina shook her head. "I would have to confer with Dr. Wilson or Miss Basta, but I believe the lore talks about gems of power held for ages. This would suggest to me that charge remains until used for some arcan reason, or until vessel of energy is damaged somehow."

Saki yawned again, then giggled in embarrassment. Lauren mimed taking a nap, to which Saki nodded her head enthusiastically. Lauren patted her lap, and Saki happily scooted over to where Lauren was sitting on the floor, placed her head in Lauren's lap, and promptly feel asleep.

"I guess she's teamed up with you now," Bianca laughed.

"I guess so," Lauren smiled, stroking the sleeping Japanese girl's hair. "And it's still your turn," Lauren told Luna.

"Okay, okay, I'm thinking, I'm thinking," Luna laughed.
 
Man, Orson wished he had thought of that. But then again, she might just not want to do that same thing with him. He needed to stop thinking so possessively. He had no right to expect anything like that. Saki was free to sleep on anyone she liked.

Orson instead focused on Luna, feeling excited about what she would ask. He kind of hoped it was for him, even if it that was a bit unfair. He found it exciting.
 
"Okay, I have a question for...Sabrina," Luna laughed.

The French naturalist raised an eyebrow at Luna's mock suspenseful approach but otherwise didn't respond.

"So what is your reaction to Miss Basta's instructions that everybody on board...except the Captain, of course...has to remain a virgin until some specific event happens in the future?

The question got a blush from Bianca and a sideway glance from all the women at Orson, except for the sleeping Saki and the subject of the question, Sabrina.

"Considering that I had no plans of surrendering my virginity on this trip, my reaction is more concerned with Miss Basta's assertion of being able to see the future. Up until a few days ago, I would have dismissed Miss Basta's portent reading as self-delusional at best, chicanery at worst. However, considering that..." Sabrina pointed at the glowing emerald "...I guess I have to take Miss Basta's fortune telling at face value."
 
Well, that was a confirmation of virginity if he’d ever heard it. It made it easier for Orson to say something more. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to say in regards to that,” he spoke up, drawing the crew’s attention to him. “Safa told me the same thing, and I thought it was unfair that I was told that without any of your permission. So, I’d like to even it out, if just a bit,” he explained. “So I’m a virgin too. In that sense, I’ll also have to keep my virginity until that certain point. After all, you can’t lose it if there’s no one to lose it to,” he said, trying to make a joke of it.

“And for what it’s worth, I trust Safa’s fortune telling. She predicted the wasp among other things so far. It seems like she has some sort of gift, magical or otherwise. Regardless, I think we take warnings about the future seriously from her,” he finally finished.
 
"Not to put too crude a point on it, Captain, but there are other women off this airship, so you are not strictly restricted," Cristina observed. "Whereas we are restricted regardless of where we go, according to Miss Basta's telling. We will be going to small island with base in one day's time, yes? So restriction will not apply to you as reference to women there, but it will apply to us reference to men there. Is your turn then for question, is it not, Sabrina?" Cristina asked.
 
Dammit. Here he was trying to relate to them, but instead he came off as condescending. Well, he wouldn’t hook up with anyone at the base anyway. After all, if just being a woman was enough to motivate him, he would’ve had sex for the first time long ago.

He turned his eyes to Sabrina, watching her for her question.
 
"Cristina, what were you doing with such a large emerald on board?" Sabrina asked.

"As Contesa, I have personal items, and items that are mine as Contesa, if that makes sense," Cristina explained. "Emerald is mine, personally. Was assisting in establishing mine in eastern portion of Andes, as graduate student. Emerald has sentimental value," Cristina added.

"Tell us something that has sentimental value to you, Captain," Cristina asked.
 
Orson hadn’t even thought of that. It was strange that such a valuable gem was on board. But it made sense when she phrased it like that. The they reached him again, and he was stumped.

Orson had few things he’d describe as sentimental. There was his gun, but it was a bit different with that. It served a practical purpose. His coat was an old one, but it was more nostalgic and comforting than sentimental. There was only one thing that really came to mind.

“A locket. Small, gold, not really valuable. I keep it in my cabin. It was given to me by, umm,” he stammered, turning a bit red, “a girl.”
 
Cristina raised her eyebrows at the last, but did not press for more.

"So what is your question, Captain?"
 
Orson was relieved she didn’t push further and that it counted. He turned to Lauren, ready to give her the question he asked before. “Lauren, why do you care so much about who I’m involved with? Is it just a curiosity?”
 
"Idle curiosity," Lauren said with a shrug, as she looked down at the sleeping Saki. The young Japanese woman had a beatific smile on her face as she laid sleeping. "Plus, I just want to mess with you a little, get under your skin. You were something of an ass the first time we met. Telling me to get a permit when the city government wouldn't give me one. You had this condescending attitude about a situation you were completely and totally ignorant about. But I forgive you for being a complete ignoramus," she said with a chuckle.

Lauren looked down at the gem, which actually flared a little. "You want to know something weird?" she said to no one in particular. "It actually felt good to get that out there. I guess he gem though so to. It looks like we're almost halfway there."
 
Well, Orson was red again, though a different type of embarrassment than before. Ugh. He wished there was something he could object to, but he couldn’t. So he sat there and took it, as he deserved.

“Good progress then. Your question, Lauren?” he asked, hoping to change topics to anything.
 
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