Braidie! Adrienne called, tapping the image to a higher resolution. The dragoness had just come home--the end of the night shift was just coming to an end. She wasn't particularly happy, but then, who would be, swabbing decks for twelve hours straight?

"Whaddaya want?" The turqoise mutt replied, cramming her head down into the rider-compartment. Her voice was edged with frustration, but it evaporated when she caught sight of the statement. "You're kidding me!" She exclaimed, then whooped and nearly conked her head on the low ceiling, amazed and flooded with joy. "Where'd you land that money, chick?"

Adrienne was grinning almost stupidly. "Since I started working at the 'la, I've been saving up..."

"You mean, not wasting it away on that junk."

The human paused for a moment, sobering.

"Woops, sorry," Braidie ducked further into the compartment so she could butt the girl with her muzzle. "Don't think about that, Ady, that was long ago. Now, tell me, what are we going to do with all that dough?"

"Well, I was thinking..." Adrienne began, returning the affectionate muzzle with a loose hug. "It's been a while now since we last travelled..."

The dragoness whooped again, the hot gust of air nearly bowling Adrienne away. "Yes! Another trip! Perfect!"

"I was thinking another Weyr, Braidie... the last one was so open, it was nice."

~Wait a minute.~ The turqoise dragon pulled out of the compartment, and sat back on her haunches. When Adrienne followed her, the first thing she caught was her bond's suspicious look. "You're not planning anything on the side, are you?"

"Oh, Braidie, why ever would I do that?"

"You hold a grudge like nothing else, chickie," Braidie reprimanded, lifting a work-sore paw to shake a claw at her. "You're still sore over that backwards frenzy... and..." she counted on her paws, "It's been about three years--oh my gods."

Adrienne's quaint smile became a smirk. "What, don't want to wear your heat off somewhere nice and clean, for once--and have the males chase you in the bargain?"

"You tricky thing!" Braidie ducked down again and scooped her bond up in a most undignified manner. Cradling her like a cat would cradle a kitten, the dragoness snorted and cackled. "Just so long as I get to name my children, this time! Last time the fathers tacked on all of those dratted 'th's to my poor babies, I don't think I could stand that again!"

Adrienne, snuggled in her great bond's forepaws, gave a little grin. "Well, hopefully they'll all bond, this time." They both paused, thinking of the unusual offspring that poor Braidie'd given life to a triplet of years ago. All grown, now, once in a while they'd be seen on the station, themselves...

It was definitely time to get out into the Nexus again.

But not now. Now they'd get their rest. Tomorrow night, once work was over, they'd begin to plan out their next destination...