Approach vector calculated. The lonely Templar rushed over Harris' surface.
"Nothing but ice..." Layla looked onto her dataped which she had fed with general information about planet Harris from Derby's database. "Northern hemisphere, an average of 5 sun hours a day..." She sighed deeply. It was worth a try, discarding the idea was simply disrespectful, it was a present after all, a ceremony wherein they both had been greatly honoured.
A vast and dreary ice plain. And a pompous building in the middle of that desert. Terraforming had not developped as originally scheduled, yet it was an lucrative place for tourism, or rather it used to be like that. Due to the war, people were more and more keeping away from dangerous flights to Harris.
John's and Layla's small estate seemed completely out of place. At least Layla perceived it as such. Knowing about her liability to low temperatures, Layla had brought enough clothes. After the landing procedure she stepped out of the ship. A biting wind immediately spoiled her already battered mood. "John should arrive soon, unless he's tuffling with prowling ricemunchers..." Layla slowly walked toward the main entrance.
After around 5 minutes, another Templar showed up, and landed near the Estate. Commodore John Clay, or Count Wessex, stepped out into the cold air, looking around. "Dull as always." He sighed. Noticing the other Templar, he knew Layla was already in the building.
He entered. "Layla? You're here, hon'?" He shouted as he entered the great hall.
[10:46:32] Wolfs Ghost (Murphy): And actually, the KU Dessie is the best GB.
[19:29:19] Joseph (Aphil): SCRA|CPW-Capitalism.
Layla was strolling around in the entrance hall. Her pale and fatigued appearance resembled the simple, almost tasteless architectural style of the entire hall. Service had been remarkably exhausting lately. John and herself finally managed to get a few days off. A little break was very desired and urgently needed for both if them, additionally, they had to visit their estate on Harris in order to decide about its future. Layla had a few vague ideas, but it was still in the dark, they both had to assign priorities, she wanted to hear her husband's opinion, or maybe she merely wanted to see and embrace him again...
John heard the familiar voice, and immediately turned towards its source. He saw Layla, smiles. "There you are, darlin'." With these words, he hugged her. "It has been some time since we last saw each other, huh?" He released the hug to look at her.
[10:46:32] Wolfs Ghost (Murphy): And actually, the KU Dessie is the best GB.
[19:29:19] Joseph (Aphil): SCRA|CPW-Capitalism.
A smile arose on Layla's face. "Yeah, it's been some time, job consumes much input and devotion... I'm so glad we could arrange to meet here on Harris, just a few days, only us two..." She sighed and grabbed his hand. "Let's make a quick tour through the building, mh? I'm eager to see all the rooms."
They started walking around. The Great Hall was designed for visitors, obviously. Containing multiple toilets, kitchen, dining room, conference room, and even a small room with a single bed, the "lower" part of the house was certainly supposed to be for that kind of people.
"This is pretty huge. Too huge for us two, huh?" John grinned, squeezing Layla's hand. "And we haven't been upstairs yet." He sighed. "I bet this is not supposed to be for us, hon'. I guess we are already prepared for visitors with all this equipment." He chuckled, looking at Layla.
[10:46:32] Wolfs Ghost (Murphy): And actually, the KU Dessie is the best GB.
[19:29:19] Joseph (Aphil): SCRA|CPW-Capitalism.
Layla was shivering the whole time. The heating was either not switched on or there was no heating at all. She couldn't stand the oppressive frostiness in the large rooms and it was definitely not a place Layla could feel homelike in. "Meh... More people would surely enliven this place, big parties and fromal celebrations maybe.. I doubt anyone could be bothered flying to Harris for pure entertainment though." She sighed. "Let's go upstairs."
And they did so. They entered the first room, which wasn't so big as the main hall downstairs. The temperature has changed too. Here, it was warm. Delighted, John walked around all the beauty in that room. Definitely something everyone would call a "living-room". "It is not so bad after all, huh? It is warmer here too." He smiled at Layla, as he approached her.
[10:46:32] Wolfs Ghost (Murphy): And actually, the KU Dessie is the best GB.
[19:29:19] Joseph (Aphil): SCRA|CPW-Capitalism.
"Pretty much the opposite of what I perceived downstairs. They really put some effort in designing that room fairly decently... look at all those paintings... fakes whatsoever, but all fine and dandy...yeah.." Layla's voice gradually took an ironic and depreciatory tone, despite the new warmth, she took no stock of "quickly banged out" things. However, Layla didn't want to ruin John's apparently good mood, nor spoil her own one. "Well, I like it more than the entrance hall."
John sighed. "Still, Cambridge is a lot nicer." He sighed and sat on a couch. "God, I'm already tired of all this walking... What should we do with this, anyway?" He turned to Layla with an uncertain voice.
[10:46:32] Wolfs Ghost (Murphy): And actually, the KU Dessie is the best GB.
[19:29:19] Joseph (Aphil): SCRA|CPW-Capitalism.