February 1, 2364

I am starting to consider what to do for Travis for Valentine's day this year. Last year he blind sided me, as I had not even remembered the holiday. This year, I intend to win the holiday. Blue is absolutely perplexed by my decision on the matter, and he also thinks that I am insane to think I could “win” a holiday. Well, he knows I'm insane, but now he thinks I am doubly so.

All that said, he has agreed to help me if I need it. He actually suggested that I find somewhere to take Travis for a little get away that doesn't involved our families, somewhere he'd enjoy. I have enlisted his help to get me suggestions on where to go. The only place Travis and I go when we leave the ship seems to be to visit our families. I am considering Risa, simply because it's so nice there... but all the sexually repressed people who need a place like Risa to explore their inner sexual desires kind of put a damper on the mood. I haven't been there before though, so I might just be assuming too much based upon what I've heard. When I brought this up with Blue, he was unsure which theory he was willing to support as most likely to be true. He suggests I look into somewhere else instead though, leave Risa for a time when we're not trying to celebrate a holiday, and instead as somewhere to explore when we have some free time.

I do know what gift I'm getting Travis though. He's been complaining that he needs a proper kitchen knife. The first time he said something, Blue pulled something random off his person, and offered it up for Travis' use. Travis looked at it a moment, and with a shrug, turned back to his food prep to give it a go. He did eventually manage to get the garlic chopped with it, but he cursed the blade the whole time and grumbled over this or that detail about it. Over the course of the month, he slowly worked his way through the whole collection of blades Blue and I own, only to find there was not a single thing that would work. I did carefully pay attention to what he liked and disliked about each, and since then have been stealthily shopping for a knife that would suit his purposes.

I think I've found the winner, and I'm going to meet with a seller to acquire it when we make port tomorrow. Blue has agreed to keep Travis distracted for me, so that he hopefully doesn't notice I've gone off without him or Blue at my side. Everything I've heard, this should be a blade that will make him happy, and I must admit that I find it very sexy to think there actually is a blade in the universe that Travis can handle like a pro. I've been carefully observing the manner in which he attempted to use the blades he borrowed from Blue and I, and I'd paid some interest in the manner in which he handled the blades in his mother's kitchen. I should be able to get a feel for the blade in the manner he'd use it, and decide if it'll make him happy.